In this episode of Computer AF, John Boitnott and Anne Ahola Ward came together to discuss the rise of generative engine optimization, Peloton’s controversy, the evolution of voice cloning, and Elon Musk (obviously), among other things. The first major topic of conversation was how search engine optimization (SEO) and AI are becoming inseparable and how generative engine optimization (GEO) is taking center stage.
At this point, most people have noticed the use of AI in search engines. It has been rolled out to great effect, with Gemini showing up in Google results in a big way. It’s not always good, with some suggestions being downright outlandish or dangerous, but it is rapidly improving. But why is it suddenly everywhere?
“You’re seeing those AI overviews on steroids now,” remarked Anne. “Because they want to hook you on the idea that ‘we’re gonna do more of the thinking for you. We’re gonna do more relevant things for you. We’re gonna make ourselves more useful to you.’”
The primary goal is to keep people from going elsewhere, such as to TikTok or to ChatGPT and its upcoming search engine.
As for GEO versus SEO, the key difference lies in optimization, with GEO focusing on algorithms as opposed to search results. It is about being understood and used by algorithms instead of attempting to hit the right keywords.
While it might not change everything, remaining much the same in many cases, it will likely be “more buttoned up in terms of backend.” Things like rich snippets and better markup will become more important than ever.
Anne believes it is about having “clear human easily read language that could be also optimized for voice search.” Overall, she expects it to be more about being human-friendly and less focused on search engines. It is “oddly the opposite sort of way to think about it” but also where things are headed.
Of course, you still want the usual suspects like links and different types of media, but it needs to be “tied into a bow” that pleases the “AI overlords.” Ultimately, it is a shift from pleasing search engines to pleasing language models.
But with the rise of AI, companies like Google are having to make changes. In the case of Google, that means simplifying its disclosures to mark anything that has been digitally altered. This will be particularly important with the upcoming elections, with Google making a conscious effort to make sure anything related to the elections will be marked if it is digitally altered.
Neurotechnology and Neuralink’s Expansion
As it often does, Computer AF turned to Elon, though there were some positive points, such as the exemplary integration of AI with neurotechnology. This combination has propelled not just scientific innovation but also practical health solutions.
The recent $14 million expansion in Austin, Texas, shows Neuralink’s rapid growth and a commitment to revolutionizing brain-machine interfaces. The facility is set to further the development of technologies that enhance human cognitive and physical capabilities, demonstrating the potential of AI to fundamentally improve human life.
Peloton and Perplexity
On a different note, Peloton has found itself in the news again, and this time it is for ethical issues, with a recent data privacy debacle making waves. Accused of selling user data without explicit consent, Peloton is at the center of a legal and ethical storm. It is yet another reminder of the critical need for robust data protection measures in an era where consumer data is seen as a valuable commodity.
In other news, Perplexity had a difficult week in the press after being called out for scraping the internet without proper attribution. They did release a new voice feature that many claim is better than ChatGPT’s voice function, but John and Anne seemed more inclined to think it was PR at its finest.
Both of these cases are a stark reminder of how vulnerable data is in the current era.
Computer AF is a tech-focused show featuring the genius combination of the Anne Ahola Ward and John Boitnott. Enough said.
