Stay visible in the age of AI – talk (ÜKFP / VVVA)
It's no longer the customer searching – AI searches on their behalf. The talk shows how businesses get found in the age of AI search: in 2026, 45% of consumers use an AI tool to find a local company, up from just 6% a year earlier (a 7.5x jump). Delivered at the Veszprém County Enterprise Development Foundation event.
“AI-based colleagues and the fight for visibility” – Business Environment Development Program (ÜKFP); organizer: Veszprém County Enterprise Development Foundation (VVVA)
Adam Schmutz's talk at the event “AI-based colleagues and the fight for visibility”, organized by the Veszprém County Enterprise Development Foundation (VVVA) within the Business Environment Development Program (ÜKFP) for SME leaders in Fejér and Veszprém counties. The central question: “How do your customers find you when they no longer search — but AI searches for them?” It builds on fresh data: in 2026, 45% of consumers use an AI tool to find a local business (up from just 6% a year ago – a 7.5x increase; BrightLocal 2026), AI Mode search is three times longer than classic Google search, and Google AI Mode reaches 1 billion monthly active users. Schmutz introduces the new consumer type, the “Asker”, who expects a direct answer from AI rather than a list, and the guest's 6-step, predominantly digital customer journey. The new competition: not who appears first among Google's 10 results, but whether AI mentions you at all. The talk gives concrete, free, Hungarian-market-tailored steps to grow digital/AI visibility (GEO). Other speakers: Dr. Kitti Hiezl and Dr. Eszter Madarasz (University of Pannonia).
“The question used to be who appears first among Google's 10 results. Now it's: does AI mention you at all when someone asks?” In 2026, 45% of consumers already use an AI tool to find a local business – up from just 6% a year ago.