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Why OpenAI’s push into ads may undermine trust in AI assistants, according to Demis Hassabis

Why OpenAI’s push into ads may undermine trust in AI assistants, according to Demis Hassabis

As OpenAI moves ChatGPT towards advertising, trust becomes the central issue - not capability. This edition looks at Demis Hassabis’ critique of the timing, the growing confusion around content “chunking,” and why citation analysis now matters more than ever in AI search.

GEO

+5

Crystal Carter at Wix on the future of AI search, as ChatGPT ads and Google’s UCP reshape the landscape

Crystal Carter at Wix on the future of AI search, as ChatGPT ads and Google’s UCP reshape the landscape

It’s been a pivotal week for AI search. ChatGPT confirmed ads are coming, Google doubled down with Personal Intelligence and UCP, and Gemini’s reach expanded again. I’m also delighted to share my conversation with Crystal Carter at Wix, where she talks through how she approaches the huge and fast-evolving role of AI Search communications at the company.

GEO

+7

Will the AI Search industry be worth $171bn by 2030? Will ChatGPT apps ever take off and are they a threat to Apple's App Store?

Will the AI Search industry be worth $171bn by 2030? Will ChatGPT apps ever take off and are they a threat to Apple's App Store?

As AI search accelerates into 2026, I've taken a look at the top stories shaping the industry. Will the AI search industry be worth $171bn by 2030? Will ChatGPT apps ever take off? Lets dive in.

GEO

+8

Mark Williams-Cook on AI search, GEO and what actually drives visibility

Mark Williams-Cook on AI search, GEO and what actually drives visibility

This conversation with Mark Williams-Cook explores how trust, entity strength and off-site signals increasingly matter in an AI Search world.

Video

+6

Which retailers won Halloween in AI Search and what Big Tech’s $400B AI bet means for brands

Which retailers won Halloween in AI Search and what Big Tech’s $400B AI bet means for brands

Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft all reported earnings this week. Alphabet impressed with strong ad and cloud growth and saw its stock rise, Microsoft beat expectations but dipped on AI-driven cost concerns, while Meta’s revenue beat was overshadowed by soaring expenses and weak profit, sending its shares sharply lower.

Perplexity

+7

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Atlas as SoftBank backs $22.5B round - and why a 25% traffic drop isn’t worrying the CMO of a leading hotel group

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Atlas as SoftBank backs $22.5B round - and why a 25% traffic drop isn’t worrying the CMO of a leading hotel group

OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Atlas browser. SoftBank’s multibillion-dollar AI bet. And a 25% traffic drop that hasn’t dented revenue.

GEO

+6

The next search revolution: Duane Forrester on the evolution of search in the AI era

The next search revolution: Duane Forrester on the evolution of search in the AI era

Search is changing faster than ever. As AI systems replace lists of links with direct answers, marketers face a seismic shift in how visibility is earned and measured. Drawing on decades at Microsoft and Bing, Duane Forrester explores how intent, context, and human understanding will define the next era of discovery - and what it really takes to stay visible when machines start thinking for themselves.

Perplexity

+8

AI Search is shifting fast; Ahrefs’ Louise Linehan shows why data, visibility and core SEO matter

AI Search is shifting fast; Ahrefs’ Louise Linehan shows why data, visibility and core SEO matter

AI search is upending the SEO industry, with many publishers worried about how they can grow their audience without customer acquisitions costs spiralling out of control. Louise Linehan of Ahrefs shares how brand visibility, content, and strategy must evolve as clicks decline and AI answers rise.

Video

+2

From “SEO is dead” to GPT-5 and Grok AI ads - the week that shook search

From “SEO is dead” to GPT-5 and Grok AI ads - the week that shook search

This week saw a headline that rattled SEOs, a major leap forward for AI capabilities, and a signal that advertising will soon be integrated into the very fabric of AI responses. Here’s what it means for your strategy - and the conversations you’ll need to have in the boardroom.

GEO

+5

GEO vs SEO: how generative engines are changing the rules of search

GEO vs SEO: how generative engines are changing the rules of search

What GEO means for organic performance, how it differs from SEO, and what actions marketers should take now.

Perplexity

+3

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