The Next Big Thing In (AI) Search

This Week

In this edition, we explore the AI trends making waves. First, Perplexity, the AI search tool everyone’s talking about—can it really beat Google?

Then, AI gets personal. One man received his breakup news via an AI summary on his iPhone—welcome to the future of relationships.

We also look at how AI-driven agents are reshaping software and advertising and whether travel marketing is ready for the shift to AI-powered search.

Read on!

The New AI Search Tool You Wish You Were Using

Perplexity is all the rage with AI super users. The AI-powered search engine combines web search with conversational AI to deliver succinct but well-rounded answers while also citing its sources (which can be a challenge in ChatGPT).

Perplexity provides a free version with basic features and a Pro plan for more advanced capabilities, such as using GPT-4 and Claude 3 models. While I still use Google and ChatGPT for most of my searching, I like Perplexity for research and information gathering. It gives me a fairly in-depth answer to my request and links to follow-on articles and sources.  

Want to try it out yourself?

• Choose a Plan: Start with the free Quick Search, or upgrade to Pro Search for in-depth analysis.

• Perform a Search: Input queries, ask follow-up questions, and get personalized results with clickable sources.

• Use Focused Search: Select a focus area like academic or social for tailored results.

For a full analysis of Perplexity AI, visit the original Section School article.

The Future of Software is Agent-Driven

The evolution of software is about to hit a major inflection point. We're not just talking about more intelligent systems—we're entering an era where AI agents will transform the entire structure of software.

In the near future, software applications won’t just be standalone tools. They'll create dynamic networks of AI agents that interact with one another to handle tasks. Need a specific function? A software platform will spin up a specialized AI agent to get it done. 

Microsoft has already started rolling out these innovations. In September 2024, they launched Copilot agents, which interact with external tools. Slack isn't far behind. Their recently launched Agent Hub integrates with Salesforce’s AI agents, as well as third-party partners like Adobe, Anthropic, Cohere, and Perplexity.

You can download the report at CB Insights.

Will AI Search Tools Change Travel Marketing Forever?

AI isn’t flipping search marketing on its head overnight, but it’s definitely shaking things up. 

Experts like Mario Gavira from Kiwi and Robert Patterson from MMGY Global are seeing a slow but steady shift from traditional search to AI-driven systems. But PPC isn’t going away just yet — brands are holding on until AI can prove its worth with more relevant, detailed search results.

What’s clear is that AI-powered search engines are changing the rules. Instead of a page full of clickable links, users get summarized answers, which could mean less exposure for traditional SEO tactics. 

If you’ve been relying on organic search for your traffic, it’s time to rethink your approach.

AI search engines like Perplexity are even exploring ads, but they’re treading carefully — keeping ads separate from results to maintain user trust. Meanwhile, platforms like Mobi and Algolia are helping tourism brands adapt by building AI search experiences into their websites.

If you’re a marketer trying to drive demand, what’s the new game plan?

• Shift your SEO focus to meet the needs of AI-powered search engines — answer-focused content is the future.

• Test out these AI-driven platforms to see what sticks for your brand.

• Balance human-friendly content with AI relevance by using natural language and focusing on user intent.

• As AI search platforms introduce ads, try out formats that don’t feel too invasive to users.

Curious how AI is transforming travel marketing? Get the full scoop over at Phocuswire.

AI Agents Are Taking Over Advertising

What happens when AI agents start filtering out your ads? Jeremiah Owyang says it’s time to rethink how you engage your audience.

The rise of AI agents—autonomous systems designed to handle tasks and improve over time—are disrupting business models and advertising. These agents will search the web for users, filter out irrelevant ads, and deliver personalized, multi-media content.

For marketers, this means moving away from ads and focusing on delivering real value, like curated product experiences. Instead of bombarding people with messages they don’t want, smart marketers will offer relevant incentives like exclusive deals or loyalty programs.

While startups will likely lead innovation in this space, tech giants like Amazon and Google may take longer to adapt—but they won’t be left behind.

To stay competitive, brands need to rethink their approach to customer engagement. As AI takes over more digital tasks, websites should become destinations with great user experiences designed to attract human visitors.

For the full article, visit Jeremiah Owyang's LinkedIn.

When AI Delivers The Breakup News

Imagine waking up to an alert on your shiny new iPhone 15 Pro that says, "No longer in a relationship; wants belongings from the apartment." Yep, that’s how NYC-based developer Nick Spreen found out his girlfriend broke up with him—through a test version of Apple’s upcoming AI-powered text summary feature.

How did he take the news? Surprisingly well. "It felt distant, but in a way that wasn’t bad. Like having a personal assistant buffer the emotional blow," Nick told Ars Technica. "But still... a little surreal and dystopian."

Apple first teased the Apple Intelligence feature in June, but it's only available in beta for now, with full rollout expected in iOS 18.1 this fall. It’s like a mini ChatGPT living inside your iMessage, reading your texts and delivering concise summaries. Handy for when you want to skip the drama, but maybe not ideal for heartbreak.

The future is here—and apparently, it comes with AI-powered breakup texts.

Nick deleted the original tweet after it went viral, but you can read the Ars Technica article here.

Quick Hits

• You can send your Zoom AI Avatar to meetings (coming soon).

• HeyGen debuts blog-to-AI video integration for HubSpot.

• OpenAI announces content partnership with Hearst.

• Adobe announced 100+ new AI features across their creator suite.