Speaking Events

The way consumers discover and buy products is undergoing a radical transformation, driven by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI).

As search engines increasingly integrate generative models and buyers leverage tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, traditional SEO tactics are becoming obsolete.

The shift from traditional SEO to AI-powered search represents a fundamental change in how consumers interact with information. Understanding this evolution is crucial for brands aiming to stay relevant and visible.

AI-powered search is fundamentally reshaping how consumers discover and evaluate CPG brands.

Traditional search is evolving into something entirely different. When consumers ask Google “what’s the best mushroom coffee?” they’re no longer getting ten blue links.

The implications extend beyond traffic patterns. AI overview clicks often don’t attribute back to Google in your analytics, appearing as direct traffic instead.

The AI revolution isn’t approaching—it has arrived and is accelerating beyond what most marketers can comprehend.

The landscape is increasingly characterized by multimodal interactions, with systems capable of processing text, images, voice, and video simultaneously.

For forward-thinking marketers, this isn’t simply about efficiency—it’s about gaining a competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving ecosystem where content discoverability, search rankings, and the training of AI models.

In a timely and insightful webinar, digital marketing veteran Chuck Aikens revealed how artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping AI search technology and consumer shopping behaviors.

“The pace of innovation has become exponential. What we’re seeing isn’t just incremental improvement – it’s a fundamental shift in how AI integrates with daily consumer behaviors.”

These developments are particularly significant for marketers and retailers, as they represent a move toward more sophisticated, personalized shopping experiences powered by multimodal AI systems.

The impact of AI-generated content on search engines is a topic of ongoing debate among SEO professionals.

On one hand, AI-generated content can enhance search engine rankings by providing high-quality, keyword-rich material that aligns with SEO best practices.

However, there are concerns that search engines might penalize websites that rely heavily on AI-generated content. The key is to ensure that AI-generated content is well-researched, accurate, and tailored to meet the needs of the audience.