GEO Conference
"SEO for AI"
Official GEO Conference ©️
Location
Ritz Carlton
1150 22nd St NW
Washington D.C. 20037
1150 22nd St NW
Washington D.C. 20037
Time & Date
Thursday
June 18, 2026
8:30AM - 4:30PM
June 18, 2026
8:30AM - 4:30PM
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Conference
Washington DC — June · 18 · 2026
90
days
00
hours
00
minutes
00
seconds
What To Expect
150
Leaders
15
Sessions
1
Great Time
Pricing
One (1) ticket • All Access
$900/ea
Group Tickets
Sold Out
VIP Tickets
Sold Out
How to show up in AI search like ChatGPT and Claude?
This full-day conference is dedicated to understanding “AI SEO” aka Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).
This new field has many similarities with traditional SEO, but it is profoundly different in several ways.
Learn the newest updates, recent announcements, and leading research into how AI surfaces content from the real experts behind the scenes.
This the 3rd GEO Conference. Join us at our nation's capital as we celebrate its 250th birthday!
The 1st and 2nd conferences (Austin / June 2025 and San Francisco / December 2025) sold out.
This new field has many similarities with traditional SEO, but it is profoundly different in several ways.
Learn the newest updates, recent announcements, and leading research into how AI surfaces content from the real experts behind the scenes.
This the 3rd GEO Conference. Join us at our nation's capital as we celebrate its 250th birthday!
The 1st and 2nd conferences (Austin / June 2025 and San Francisco / December 2025) sold out.
Agenda
👋 8:30 AM — Arrival & Check-in (30 mins)
Please arrive between 8:30AM and 8:55AM. No QR code to show — if you registered, your badge will be ready for pick-up. Be sure to check inbox (and spam) for important details.
8:55 AM — Welcome to GEO + Audience Q&A (10 mins)
Welcome to GEO! A quick look at why this topic matters and why everyone in this room decided to show up for it.
9:10 AM — Panel: The Fortune 500 & GEO (10 mins)
w/ Ian Lawson (Marriott International), Jean-Guy Leconte (AT&T), Debbie Martin (Bayer), Keige Tom (Philip Morris), and Aaron Poynton (American Society for AI)
A look at how the world's largest brands are navigating the shift from search results to AI answers — what's changing, who owns it internally, and where they're investing.
A look at how the world's largest brands are navigating the shift from search results to AI answers — what's changing, who owns it internally, and where they're investing.
9:20 AM — Case Study: How GEO Became Expedia's Fastest-Growing Channel (20 mins)
w/ Daniel Shin Un Kang (Head of Organic and Agentic Search, Expedia)
Search is shifting from blue links into AI answers. This session shares the model behind Answer Engine Optimization at Expedia Group — how AI finds, processes, and decides whether to cite your content, and the two questions that determine whether you show up.
Search is shifting from blue links into AI answers. This session shares the model behind Answer Engine Optimization at Expedia Group — how AI finds, processes, and decides whether to cite your content, and the two questions that determine whether you show up.
9:40 AM — AI and the Newsroom: A GEO Opportunity (20 mins)
w/ Doug Simon (CEO, D S Simon Media)
AI is changing which stories newsrooms cover and how far they travel. This session shares findings from Doug Simon's research "AI and the Newsroom" study and its 2026 TV Producers survey, including how AI shapes story selection and creates a multiplier effect as stations share content across channels — and what that opens up for brands earning visibility through earned media.
AI is changing which stories newsrooms cover and how far they travel. This session shares findings from Doug Simon's research "AI and the Newsroom" study and its 2026 TV Producers survey, including how AI shapes story selection and creates a multiplier effect as stations share content across channels — and what that opens up for brands earning visibility through earned media.
10:00 AM — Telling Authentic Stories to Improve AI Visibility (20 mins)
w/ Leah Nurik (CEO, Brandi AI)
AI rewards a coherent, credible brand narrative. Leah unpacks how earned media, PR, and authentic storytelling shape how models understand and cite your brand, and why the "narrative layer" is becoming a GEO discipline of its own.
AI rewards a coherent, credible brand narrative. Leah unpacks how earned media, PR, and authentic storytelling shape how models understand and cite your brand, and why the "narrative layer" is becoming a GEO discipline of its own.
10:20 AM — The Brain Behind Copilot (20 mins)
w/ Alp Aysan (CEO, Cognizo)
A look at how an AI assistant actually chooses its sources, from someone who helped build one. Alp breaks down what a copilot weighs when it decides which content to pull, trust, and cite — and what that means for brands trying to become the answer it returns rather than a link it skips. He worked on building the brain behind copilot and will tell you exactly what it's looking for.
A look at how an AI assistant actually chooses its sources, from someone who helped build one. Alp breaks down what a copilot weighs when it decides which content to pull, trust, and cite — and what that means for brands trying to become the answer it returns rather than a link it skips. He worked on building the brain behind copilot and will tell you exactly what it's looking for.
☕️ 10:40 AM — Coffee Break & Chats (20 mins)
11:00 AM — An LLM-First Approach to Visibility and the Billion-Dollar Market Behind It (20 mins)
w/ Jachym Kraus (CEO, Algomizer)
It will delve into the endless SEO vs. GEO debates, what currently works and what doesn't, how it shapes the perceptions of the space and why it's important to focus on the bigger picture and what the space enables and unlocks.
It will delve into the endless SEO vs. GEO debates, what currently works and what doesn't, how it shapes the perceptions of the space and why it's important to focus on the bigger picture and what the space enables and unlocks.
11:20 AM — GEO from the Source: Where It Started and Where It's Headed (20 mins)
w/ Vishvak Murahari (Inventor of GEO)
The term "Generative Engine Optimization" started as research — Vishvak coined it. He traces GEO from its origins to where the field stands in 2026: what the early work got right, what's changed as the models have, and where the discipline is heading next. A first-principles grounding for the rest of the day.
The term "Generative Engine Optimization" started as research — Vishvak coined it. He traces GEO from its origins to where the field stands in 2026: what the early work got right, what's changed as the models have, and where the discipline is heading next. A first-principles grounding for the rest of the day.
11:40 AM — How Brands Stay Visible When AI Decides (20 mins)
w/ Scott Schachter (Director, Profound)
When an AI model is the one choosing what to recommend, visibility stops being about ranking and starts being about being trusted. Drawing on Profound's data across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews, Scott walks through what actually moves the needle when a model — not a results page — decides whether your brand makes the cut, and how to track whether you're showing up.
When an AI model is the one choosing what to recommend, visibility stops being about ranking and starts being about being trusted. Drawing on Profound's data across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews, Scott walks through what actually moves the needle when a model — not a results page — decides whether your brand makes the cut, and how to track whether you're showing up.
🍔 12:00 PM — Lunch & Networking (60 mins)
1:00 PM — Panel: Agencies & Professional Services (20 mins)
w/ Neal Behrend (Insight Partners), Stephen Smith (Purple Strategies), Michael Gaizutis (RNO1), Alex Fakeri (Mojo), Anita Kostadinov (SmartSites), and Rei Llazani (Cubbie.com)
The firms and agencies fielding GEO requests every day on what clients are actually asking for — and what's working. Leaders from across strategy, creative, and digital agencies compare notes on how GEO is reshaping the work: where budgets are shifting, which deliverables are new, how they prove results to clients, and what separates real traction from hype.
The firms and agencies fielding GEO requests every day on what clients are actually asking for — and what's working. Leaders from across strategy, creative, and digital agencies compare notes on how GEO is reshaping the work: where budgets are shifting, which deliverables are new, how they prove results to clients, and what separates real traction from hype.
1:20 PM — Owning Every Step of the AI Customer Journey (20 mins)
w/ Sofia Badalamenti (Growth, Evertune)
Becoming the brand AI recommends is a long game — but your brand still needs to show up in the meantime. Sofia maps the full AI customer journey and the strategies that keep you visible at every step: reaching buyers on the sources AI cites, following high-intent users after they leave an AI session, and staying present inside the AI experience itself.
Becoming the brand AI recommends is a long game — but your brand still needs to show up in the meantime. Sofia maps the full AI customer journey and the strategies that keep you visible at every step: reaching buyers on the sources AI cites, following high-intent users after they leave an AI session, and staying present inside the AI experience itself.
1:40 PM — How GEO Works + Updates from Google (20 mins)
w/ Anfal Siddiqui (Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Gemini / Google)
A view from inside Google on how AI is reshaping search. Anfal shares the latest on AI Overviews and AI Mode — how Gemini surfaces and cites content, what's changed recently, and what the team is paying attention to — giving practitioners a read on where Google's AI search is heading straight from an engineer building it.
A view from inside Google on how AI is reshaping search. Anfal shares the latest on AI Overviews and AI Mode — how Gemini surfaces and cites content, what's changed recently, and what the team is paying attention to — giving practitioners a read on where Google's AI search is heading straight from an engineer building it.
2:00 PM — The Funnel Inversion: How GEO is Changing Top of Funnel Paid Strategy (20 mins)
w/ Erik Mahal (Senior Director, Merritt Group)
Top-of-funnel strategy has changed for good: for enterprise brands, impression-based channels like programmatic display are no longer the most efficient way to build awareness. Erik walks through how to craft a top-of-funnel strategy that combines GEO and paid media — and where the spend actually belongs now.
Top-of-funnel strategy has changed for good: for enterprise brands, impression-based channels like programmatic display are no longer the most efficient way to build awareness. Erik walks through how to craft a top-of-funnel strategy that combines GEO and paid media — and where the spend actually belongs now.
2:20 PM — AI Visibility Has One Owner: Everyone (20 mins)
w/ Jenn DeRango (Senior Director, PAN)
GEO isn't a job for the SEO team alone — it's a company-wide responsibility. Jenn makes the case that AI visibility lives across PR, content, comms, and product, and shows how cross-functional teams build the kind of consistent, credible brand presence that AI models actually pick up and cite.
GEO isn't a job for the SEO team alone — it's a company-wide responsibility. Jenn makes the case that AI visibility lives across PR, content, comms, and product, and shows how cross-functional teams build the kind of consistent, credible brand presence that AI models actually pick up and cite.
☕️ 2:40 PM — Coffee Break & Chats (20 mins)
3:00 PM — Rethinking Reddit (20 mins)
w/ Eric Eden (CMO Huddles) and Drew Neisser (Thinking Deeply)
Learn how 20+ companies are building community on Reddit and increasing their GEO presence in the process.
Learn how 20+ companies are building community on Reddit and increasing their GEO presence in the process.
3:20 PM — What AI Search Engines Crave and How to Feed Them (20 mins)
w/ James O'Loughlin (CEO, GEOGrow)
Architecture, Data, Content, and Context for the GEO Era. AI engines don't read your site the way Google's crawler did — they reward structure, clean data, and clear context over keywords. Drawing on two decades in SEO and his work building GEOGrow, James breaks down the four inputs that determine whether a model can find, trust, and cite you.
Architecture, Data, Content, and Context for the GEO Era. AI engines don't read your site the way Google's crawler did — they reward structure, clean data, and clear context over keywords. Drawing on two decades in SEO and his work building GEOGrow, James breaks down the four inputs that determine whether a model can find, trust, and cite you.
3:40 PM — SEO → GEO: The Next Big Shift (20 mins)
w/ Guy Yalif (Chief Evangelist, Webflow)
Every major shift in search has created winners and losers — the move from ranked links to AI answers is the next one. Guy draws on what Webflow is seeing across its customer base as discovery moves into ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews: what carries over from the SEO playbook, what doesn't, and how teams act on AI visibility.
Every major shift in search has created winners and losers — the move from ranked links to AI answers is the next one. Guy draws on what Webflow is seeing across its customer base as discovery moves into ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews: what carries over from the SEO playbook, what doesn't, and how teams act on AI visibility.
4:00 PM — What the Numbers Actually Show: Data on AI Search (20 mins)
w/ Fernando Angulo (Senior Manager, Semrush)
If you are trying to understand whether your brand shows up when customers ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews, this session is for you. Fernando Angulo walks through real data from Semrush on AI search visibility in 2026, turning complex research into clear, actionable takeaways for SEO and GEO practitioners.
If you are trying to understand whether your brand shows up when customers ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews, this session is for you. Fernando Angulo walks through real data from Semrush on AI search visibility in 2026, turning complex research into clear, actionable takeaways for SEO and GEO practitioners.
4:20 PM — Closing Remarks (10 mins)
w/ Hosting Committee of the GEO Conference
💃🏻 4:30 PM — Class is out -- let's party!
What this conference is about
This is a thoughtfully curated, informative conference that provides you with a forum to 1) learn practical insights from experts; and 2) meet with key leaders.
You will walk away with actionable insights to bring back to your company. And, you'll actually have fun!
GEO Conference is the official conference on the topic of Generative Engine Optimization.
This full-day conference is dedicated to understanding “AI SEO” aka Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).
Other names for GEO include LLM SEO, AEO, and AIO. The term GEO is the most accurate - here is why.
How do you show up in AI-generated results like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini?
The science. The proof. The stories.
Join hundreds of leaders from world-class companies.
This field is relatively new so you will be surrounded by other leaders & pioneers who are staying ahead of the curve. Everyone is welcome!
This is a highly-valuable gathering of marketing leaders, SEO experts, managers, tech experts, digital marketers, and business owners to talk about the future of search. Together, we unpack the "SEO of AI".
We recommend your company sends two people: marketing person and technical person.
This isn't your traditional trade show. Don't expect sales booths or thousands of people.
No fluff. No filler. No vendors. No flashy booths. No theatrics.
Just real people talking & solving real problems in AI-driven search.
This conference is for operators, strategists, practitioners, and builders who want to stay ahead of the algorithm.
If you care about visibility for your product/service in the age of AI search, get your ticket now and come join us on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Testimonials from July 2025 Conference (Austin, TX):
• Dale Bertrand (CEO of Fire & Spark)
• Theron Tingstad (CEO of Arbor Growth)
• Bear AI (GEO Product)
• Lisa Westlund (Director of seoplus+)
• Pete Kleinjan (CEO of Tiger29)
Testimonials from December 2025 Conference (San Francisco, CA):
• Lior Mechlovich (CEO of Salespeak.ai)
• Arlen Frederick Kumar (CTO of Wrodium)
• Mark Shvaya (Manager of eSEOspace)
• Michael Melen (CEO of SmartSites)
• Tom Jacobs (Founder of Gouda Market)
• Chris Chaplow (Founder of Andalucia.com)
Both conferences were rated 5-stars and both sold out.
You will walk away with actionable insights to bring back to your company. And, you'll actually have fun!
GEO Conference is the official conference on the topic of Generative Engine Optimization.
This full-day conference is dedicated to understanding “AI SEO” aka Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).
Other names for GEO include LLM SEO, AEO, and AIO. The term GEO is the most accurate - here is why.
How do you show up in AI-generated results like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini?
The science. The proof. The stories.
Join hundreds of leaders from world-class companies.
This field is relatively new so you will be surrounded by other leaders & pioneers who are staying ahead of the curve. Everyone is welcome!
This is a highly-valuable gathering of marketing leaders, SEO experts, managers, tech experts, digital marketers, and business owners to talk about the future of search. Together, we unpack the "SEO of AI".
We recommend your company sends two people: marketing person and technical person.
This isn't your traditional trade show. Don't expect sales booths or thousands of people.
No fluff. No filler. No vendors. No flashy booths. No theatrics.
Just real people talking & solving real problems in AI-driven search.
This conference is for operators, strategists, practitioners, and builders who want to stay ahead of the algorithm.
If you care about visibility for your product/service in the age of AI search, get your ticket now and come join us on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Testimonials from July 2025 Conference (Austin, TX):
• Dale Bertrand (CEO of Fire & Spark)
• Theron Tingstad (CEO of Arbor Growth)
• Bear AI (GEO Product)
• Lisa Westlund (Director of seoplus+)
• Pete Kleinjan (CEO of Tiger29)
Testimonials from December 2025 Conference (San Francisco, CA):
• Lior Mechlovich (CEO of Salespeak.ai)
• Arlen Frederick Kumar (CTO of Wrodium)
• Mark Shvaya (Manager of eSEOspace)
• Michael Melen (CEO of SmartSites)
• Tom Jacobs (Founder of Gouda Market)
• Chris Chaplow (Founder of Andalucia.com)
Both conferences were rated 5-stars and both sold out.
Attendees (June 18, 2026)
Sample of confirmed attendees include:
• Travel companies like Marriott International (world's largest hotel company with 30,000+ hotel properties)
• Global car and car rental companies like Sixt (globally-recognized car rental firm operating in 100+ countries)
• Consumer enterprises like Philip Morris (#1 tobacco/cigarette company in the world)
• Startups like Super.com (recently raised $85 million in its Series C)
• Universities like Carnegie Mellon, Richmond University, and Harvard University
• Insurance companies like Mutual of Omaha ($9+ billion in annual revenue) and NJM.com (2,500+ employees)
• Health companies like Adapt Health (publicly-traded company with over 670 locations and 37,000+ patients served daily)
• NGOs and Foundations like Mellon Foundation (over $270 million in assets)
• Networking & security companies like Belden (over $2 billion in annual revenue)
• Telecommunication companies like AT&T (publicly-traded company with a $167 billion market cap)
• Special organizations like Federal Reserve Bank of New York (largest, most active, and most influential of the Reserve Banks)
• There are also plenty of attendees who run or manage an agency, are building GEO products, and more.
• Travel companies like Marriott International (world's largest hotel company with 30,000+ hotel properties)
• Global car and car rental companies like Sixt (globally-recognized car rental firm operating in 100+ countries)
• Consumer enterprises like Philip Morris (#1 tobacco/cigarette company in the world)
• Startups like Super.com (recently raised $85 million in its Series C)
• Universities like Carnegie Mellon, Richmond University, and Harvard University
• Insurance companies like Mutual of Omaha ($9+ billion in annual revenue) and NJM.com (2,500+ employees)
• Health companies like Adapt Health (publicly-traded company with over 670 locations and 37,000+ patients served daily)
• NGOs and Foundations like Mellon Foundation (over $270 million in assets)
• Networking & security companies like Belden (over $2 billion in annual revenue)
• Telecommunication companies like AT&T (publicly-traded company with a $167 billion market cap)
• Special organizations like Federal Reserve Bank of New York (largest, most active, and most influential of the Reserve Banks)
• There are also plenty of attendees who run or manage an agency, are building GEO products, and more.
Goodie Gift Bag
Who doesn’t love free stuff? This conference will again have a goodie gift bag for anyone who purchases a ticket!
Every attendee gets $25,000+ worth of goodies — from free credits to GEO tools to GEO services, one-on-one consultations & professional GEO audits, and more.
For example, $500 free credits for Google Ads. These are provided by our partners & sponsors. It is provided to attendees via email 4-5 days after the conference.
Every attendee gets $25,000+ worth of goodies — from free credits to GEO tools to GEO services, one-on-one consultations & professional GEO audits, and more.
For example, $500 free credits for Google Ads. These are provided by our partners & sponsors. It is provided to attendees via email 4-5 days after the conference.
FAQs + Everything You Should Know
• There are no recordings and nothing will be posted online. This is an in-the-room-only experience.
• It is intentionally designed to be smaller with a limited number of attendees to foster meaningful & intimate connections.
• Tickets are first-come, first-serve. There are a limited number of tickets based on the room limitations. Once tickets sell out, that's it!
• You will be able to meet the speakers and attendees.
• Those without paid registration will not be permitted inside the room.
• If you registered & paid, your badge with your name on it will be ready for pick-up. There is no QR code or confirmation email to show.
• To receive your badge, please bring your ID at check-in.
• The dress code is comfortable and conference-casual. Dressing up is fine too!
• You may stay at any hotel, there is no hotel room block. Lots of hotel options in the area.
• Conference details (including the agenda, speakers, timelines, and logistics) are always subject to change.
• Downtown DC is about a 15-minute drive from the DCA airport (recommended airport). It is ~40 mins from IAD.
• There is wifi. There are also nearby meeting spaces if you need to take a call or step away.
• Lunch is included. Vegetarian + vegan + gluten-free options are available too.
• Pre-event dinner (the night of Wednesday, June 17) is included exclusively for speakers & sponsors.
• FYI: The day after the conference is a Federal Holiday (Juneteenth).
• Questions? Please email our friendly team: hello@geo-conference.com
• Want to speak? If you are an expert in this field and have something meaningful to share, please email us.
• Sponsorship? Visit Sponsorship Packages
Get Tickets
• It is intentionally designed to be smaller with a limited number of attendees to foster meaningful & intimate connections.
• Tickets are first-come, first-serve. There are a limited number of tickets based on the room limitations. Once tickets sell out, that's it!
• You will be able to meet the speakers and attendees.
• Those without paid registration will not be permitted inside the room.
• If you registered & paid, your badge with your name on it will be ready for pick-up. There is no QR code or confirmation email to show.
• To receive your badge, please bring your ID at check-in.
• The dress code is comfortable and conference-casual. Dressing up is fine too!
• You may stay at any hotel, there is no hotel room block. Lots of hotel options in the area.
• Conference details (including the agenda, speakers, timelines, and logistics) are always subject to change.
• Downtown DC is about a 15-minute drive from the DCA airport (recommended airport). It is ~40 mins from IAD.
• There is wifi. There are also nearby meeting spaces if you need to take a call or step away.
• Lunch is included. Vegetarian + vegan + gluten-free options are available too.
• Pre-event dinner (the night of Wednesday, June 17) is included exclusively for speakers & sponsors.
• FYI: The day after the conference is a Federal Holiday (Juneteenth).
• Questions? Please email our friendly team: hello@geo-conference.com
• Want to speak? If you are an expert in this field and have something meaningful to share, please email us.
• Sponsorship? Visit Sponsorship Packages