AI, GEO, and the Future of Journalism: Cutting Through the Noise
Thursday, September 11, 2025
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM CDT
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Journalists are no strangers to hype cycles—but AI has sparked a special mix of excitement and unease. In this informal, roundtable-style breakfast chat, Pete Pachal and Ricky Sutton will dive into the big, thorny questions many reporters are asking: Can I trust this? Is it helping—or replacing—me?
We’ll start by surfacing the real skepticism in the room—then dig into how some journalists are cutting through the noise and using AI to actually save time and strengthen their work. Think: parsing massive document dumps, translating stories across multiple languages, or keeping tabs on your beat without losing sleep.
We’ll also zoom out to explore how GEO (generative engine optimization) is rewriting the rules. In a world where optimizing for AI outputs is the new SEO, success looks different: it's about producing distinctive, fact-based, and authoritative content that AI can’t easily replicate. Hot takes and speed are out; depth, clarity, and definitive reporting are in. And with AI tools reshaping how content is discovered and attributed, the battle over user agents could define how much value flows back to publishers.
To wrap, we’ll keep it practical—with hands-on tips for getting more out of the AI tools you're already using, and a few pitfalls to watch out for.