Naming in an AI Age

Mike Carr discusses the evolution of name generators since his involvement in co-developing Namer in 1986. While noting current AI Name Generators’ proficiency in producing fitting names, Carr highlights concerns about the abundance of good but not distinctive names, creating a "sea of sameness." He emphasizes the crucial need for strategic alignment, warns against legal risks stemming from algorithm-generated similarities, and advocates for understanding target audience resonance. Stressing a long-term perspective, Carr advises thorough linguistic, cultural, and legal checks, along with audience testing, for a successful naming strategy, cautioning against relying solely on quick AI-generated solutions.

Mike Carr addresses the contemporary significance of personal brand names and styles, advocating for a purposeful and authentic approach. Emphasizing the impact of personal branding on diverse situations, Carr introduces five brand personalities—sincerity, excitement, competence, sophistication, and ruggedness. He stresses the importance of aligning with a primary brand personality while suggesting the use of different names or brands in specific scenarios to prevent dilution, exemplified by Jessica Alba's "Honest" brand. Overall, Carr encourages individuals to choose a resonant brand personality and remain open to adapting when exploring new areas to maintain authenticity and integrity.

Mike Carr discusses how AI, exemplified by ChatGPT and others, has surpassed human naming consultants in generating names by understanding nuances and storytelling templates. He introduces Rag (Retrieval Augmented Generation), an AI technology that scrapes the internet for current data to inform naming processes, ensuring modern and relevant outcomes. While acknowledging AI's potential to replace human jobs, particularly in customer service and radiology, Carr emphasizes the importance of human expertise in guiding AI processes. He sees AI as an opportunity for professionals to enhance their skills and provide better solutions to clients by combining domain expertise with AI capabilities. Carr concludes by stressing that AI amplifies skills but doesn't democratize them, underlining the continued need for human connection and expertise in leveraging AI effectively.

Mike Carr discusses the challenges of naming businesses in the digital age, emphasizing the importance of creating memorable names over generic, forgettable ones. He illustrates this with examples like Google and Amazon, contrasting them with less engaging names like Infoseek and Book Stop. Carr also highlights the significance of trust in naming, citing examples of successful strategies from companies such as Desert Glory and the Vitamin Shop, concluding that unique and memorable names are essential for success in today's noisy digital landscape.

At NameStormers, we do our best to ensure that every name we give clients is available for trademark purposes. Join Mike and Adelaide as they discuss the difficulties of finding the "perfect name" as trademark applications only continue to grow. Learn how targeting your trademark screening more intentionally toward specific countries can make the process easier on your team and likely lead to a more ideal name.