
The Next Evolution of AI, Search, and Advertising
From Decoding AI for Marketing by Greg Stuart, Rex Briggs
January 27, 2026 · 37 min · Episode 47
About this episode
Michael Walrath discusses how AI is transforming search and advertising, challenging traditional assumptions.
Michael Walrath, Chairman and CEO of Yext, says today’s AI is fundamentally rewriting the rules of search, discovery, and brand visibility. Drawing on his extensive ad tech experience at DoubleClick, Yahoo, Moat, and now Yext, Walrath explains why AI-powered search is so much more powerful than traditional search—and why many current assumptions about GEO, SEO, and advertising are headed for a fast reckoning. Expanding on our episode with Bill Gross, Walrath also argues that inserting ads into AI experiences is the wrong answer, clicks are disappearing, and the future of AI marketing will look more like structured data and affiliate-style value exchange than traditional advertising.
People in this episode
Hosts: Greg Stuart, Rex Briggs
Guest: Michael Walrath
Topics covered
- AI
- search
- advertising
- brand visibility
- ad tech
- SEO
- GEO
Keywords
- AI
- search
- advertising
- brand visibility
- ad tech
- SEO
- GEO
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Yext, DoubleClick, Yahoo, Moat
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- Agentic AI Is Reinventing Marketing Personalization · April 7, 2026 · 41 min
- Pushing the Boundaries of Creativity with AI · March 24, 2026 · 42 min
- GEO, Productivity, and the Rapid Pace of Marketing Tool Change · March 10, 2026 · 37 min
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