SEO Week is kicking off in New York City on April 28th and runs through May 1st – four days of the top minds in search coming together to move beyond guesswork and have real conversations and sparks of inspiration to fuel the next steps in search. It’s time to connect, learn, and set yourself up for success.
Each of the four days of SEO Week focuses on a specific aspect of Search:
- The Science – AI & Technical SEO
- The Psychology – Search Behavior & Content Strategy
- The Ecosystem – Enterprise SEO & Vertical Search
- The Future – Google, AI & What’s Next
Today we’re talking about THE SCIENCE – AI & Technical SEO
Day 1 dives deep into the technical foundations of search and AI—because in an industry evolving at lightning speed, staying ahead of the technology-shaping discovery is essential. But this isn’t about LLMs versus humans. Our expert speakers will explore how we can collaborate with AI as it continues to redefine search. Kicking things off, iPR’s Founder and SEO, Mike King, sets the stage with “The Brave New World of SEO,” offering a forward-thinking look at where search is headed.
What’s on tap for the rest of Day 1?
From AI to Z: The Evolution of Search Technology
Krishna Madhavan
Principal Product Manager, Microsoft AI, Bing Web Data Platform at Microsoft
Take a deep dive into the technological revolution shaping the way we search. From AI breakthroughs to the mind-expanding potential of quantum computing, this session explores the cutting-edge innovations redefining how we access and process information. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just intrigued by the future of search, this talk promises an exciting and insightful look at what’s next.
Authoritative Intelligence: Redefining Content Evaluation with AI
Jeff Coyle
Head of Strategy at Siteimprove & Co-founder of MarketMuse
Modern search engines have moved beyond simple keyword analysis—they now leverage AI to understand context, intent, and authority. Jeff Coyle unpacks how search algorithms use natural language processing (NLP), vector search, and hybrid retrieval to assess content quality.
- The mechanics behind AI-driven ranking models like passage ranking and vector search
- How search engines measure authority in the age of deep learning
- Strategies for crafting content that aligns with today’s advanced search algorithms
NEGSEO - SEO’s Dark Arts Exposed
Robert "RSnake" Hansen
Managing Director at Grossman Ventures
Ever wondered what it takes to disrupt a competitor’s rankings—or how easily your own site could be sabotaged? Renowned hacker RSnake takes you on a wild ride through the shadowy world of Negative SEO. No sugarcoating here—just raw, unfiltered insights into the tricks and tactics lurking in the dark corners of search.
SEO Meets Data Science: The New Competitive Edge
Elias Dabbas
Creator of advertools
Data science is transforming SEO, opening doors for unprecedented insights—even for those with little coding experience. This session explores how integrating data analysis with SEO fundamentals can supercharge strategy and automation.
- Essential data skills that give SEO professionals a competitive advantage
- Hands-on workflows, visualizations, and automation tools for SEO
- How advertools, an open-source Python library, streamlines data-driven SEO tasks
Hybrid Engine Optimization: Maximizing Search & AI Visibility with a Crawler-First Approach
Jori Ford
Chief Marketing & Product Officer at FoodBoss
As AI reshapes search, brands must rethink their strategies to stay visible. Jori Ford introduces Hybrid Engine Optimization (HEO), a method that leverages crawler insights to optimize content for both search engines and AI-driven platforms.
- Understanding crawler logs to see how search engines and AI interpret your site
- Setting up GTM, Google Analytics, and Search Console to track AI and search bots
- Using data-driven insights to refine indexing, ranking, and content strategies
AI Development: Lessons from the Trenches
Annie Cushing
Founder & Senior AI Strategist at Annielytics
Building AI-powered apps that scale is possible—but it’s not always smooth sailing. Annie Cushing shares real-world stories from the front lines, from stunning successes to cautionary tales of teams that crashed and burned. This no-nonsense session will help you navigate the fast-moving world of AI development without hitting the common pitfalls.
Brand Discoverability in the Age of AI: LLMs vs. Traditional Search
JR Oakes
VP of Strategy at LOCOMOTIVE
Is your brand showing up where it matters? JR Oakes presents a data-driven comparison of how large language models (LLMs) and traditional search engines interpret brand relevance—and what that means for discoverability.
- How LLMs process and rank brand-related content differently from Google
- Insights from historical and emerging AI models on brand perception
- Practical steps to assess and improve brand visibility in search and AI-driven platforms
AX (Agent Experience): The Future of Search Optimization
James Cadwallader
Co-founder at Profound
SEO isn’t just about Google anymore—AI Answer Engines are rewriting the rules of online visibility. James Cadwallader breaks down how AI retrieval models process and rank information differently, and what that means for content strategy moving forward.
- The key differences between AI-driven retrieval models and traditional search engines
- What Agent Experience (AX) is and why it’s a game-changer for content optimization
- Tactical approaches for ensuring your content ranks in AI-driven search environments
Day 1 wraps up with the Welcome Soiree, hosted by Lastmile Retail at LAVAN. Unwind with fellow attendees, speakers, and industry leaders over drinks and apps in a laid-back atmosphere. This evening is all about kicking off the week on the right note, so look forward to some relaxing, networking, and preparing for an action-packed SEO experience the remaining three days!
