Search is no longer just a tool. It is becoming the decision layer between people and brands.

In this episode of The Modern Marketer Podcast, host Eddie Garrison breaks down new research showing that 37% of consumers now begin their searches with AI instead of Google and why this shift is redefining SEO, brand visibility, and how buying decisions are formed.

You’ll learn how AI is replacing traditional search as the first point of discovery, why users prefer AI-driven answers over link-based research, and how this changes the entire customer journey, from awareness to purchase. Eddie explains the rise of “answer optimization,” the growing importance of brand consistency and authority across the web, and the new competitive risk facing companies that rank well but fail to influence AI recommendations.

This episode also outlines practical steps brands can take to remain visible and credible in an AI-first world, including how to position your company clearly, strengthen authority beyond backlinks, and ensure your brand is understood by the systems increasingly shaping consumer decisions.

If your growth strategy still assumes Google is the starting point, this conversation will challenge that assumption and show you where the next real advantage is forming.

In an era of AI, automation, and hyper-optimized customer journeys, brand loyalty is no longer built through big campaigns or flashy experiences. It’s built in the quiet moments in between.

In this episode of The Modern Marketer Podcast, host Eddie Garrison explores the rise of “little treat” culture, the small, human-centered interactions that make customers feel understood, respected, and valued. From thoughtful onboarding and frictionless design to empathetic error handling and timely insights, these micro-moments are reshaping how trust and memory are formed in modern brands.

You’ll learn:

• Why large campaigns are losing their influence on loyalty
• How AI raises expectations but doesn’t create emotional connection
• What “little treat” moments look like inside real customer experiences
• Why memory is becoming the most important conversion metric
• How to design systems that feel human, not mechanical

If your brand is optimized but forgettable, this episode will challenge how you think about differentiation, customer experience, and long-term growth.

Because in an AI-driven world, human moments are the currency of loyalty.

Audiences aren’t just getting smarter — they’re being simulated.

In this episode of The Modern Marketer Podcast, Eddie explores how synthetic data is fundamentally changing the way brands understand customers, test strategies, and make decisions.

What happens when every company can model markets, predict outcomes, and optimize campaigns before spending a single dollar? The answer isn’t just better marketing, it’s a new set of risks, including false confidence, competitive sameness, and the erosion of strategic judgment.

You’ll learn:

• What synthetic data actually is and how it differs from traditional analytics
• Why simulations can create the dangerous illusion of certainty
• How widespread AI tools are leading to “optimized sameness” across industries
• Why human judgment is becoming the most valuable competitive advantage
• How strategy is shifting from finding answers to choosing trade-offs
• Why the future of marketing belongs to brands that prioritize interpretation over prediction

This episode is a must-listen for founders, CMOs, strategists, and marketing leaders navigating an era where intelligence is abundant, but clarity is rare.