What happens when traditional SEO is no longer the only gateway to being found online? CEO Andrea Aker was invited to share her perspective on the shift during “The New Rules of Search: Getting Found in the Age of AI,” a live panel event hosted by the Arizona Innovation Marketing Association (AZIMA).
Bringing together experts across SEO, PR and emerging AI technologies, the panel explored how platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini and AI-powered search engines are rapidly changing the way brands, expertise and information are surfaced online. Andrea discussed how AI search differs from traditional SEO and why visibility today extends far beyond ranking on the first page of Google.
Drawing from Aker Ink’s integrated PR and marketing approach, Andrea expanded on the growing need for structured, authority-based PR initiatives in order to appear in AI-generated search results. The conversation also examined the technical and strategic foundations that help AI platforms find, interpret and trust content, along with the emerging tools and practical strategies businesses can use now to strengthen discoverability.
“People are no longer just searching for information; they’re searching for confidence,” Andrea said. “AI platforms are trying to surface the sources that appear most credible, consistent and genuinely helpful. That means brands have to stop thinking in terms of quick SEO wins and start thinking more holistically about reputation, expertise and the value they’re putting into the world.”
AZIMA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the interactive marketing industry through education, networking and professional development. Guided by a board of industry leaders, the organization connects marketers, agencies, businesses and students through events designed to share insight, inspire innovation and elevate marketing excellence across the state.
Want to strengthen your visibility across AI platforms? Explore how AkerGEO™ helps brands improve discoverability, credibility and accuracy in AI-generated search results.
