We Know It’s True About SEO, But Can’t Prove It Yet
Four leading SEO experts at Tech SEO Connect reveal their most confident—but currently unproven—predictions for 2026.
Ross Hudgens believes Gemini and Google will outpace ChatGPT, with AI becoming the default mode.
The panel agrees that SEO fundamentals will persist despite the shininess of emerging trends.
Dana DiTomaso predicts that advertisements will appear in AI Overviews in some form, blurring the line between paid and organic results.
Brie Anderson argues that SEOs have a massive business opportunity to refocus and reframe their role to seize deserved opportunities.
What's one prediction about SEO in 2026 you believe but you can't prove yet? >> I do think just Gemini and Google are going to win chat GBT I think is going to become more of a afterthought. Probably they'll find some other products that make they make money from but I think Gemini's advantage and AI mode becoming the default will probably happen next year. >> I'd go with that. Yeah, we're seeing seeing the changes already permeate into that SER. I think that the fundamentals will stay fundamental. >> Uh, [music] and I think everything else is just a little bit shiny right now. >> It's way too shiny actually. It's like a bug light. [laughter] >> I think that there are going to be ads uh coming to AI overviews in some way. I have no idea how, but I think that that's going to [music] impact obviously the organic experience. Um, because you won't be able to tell perhaps if something is an ad cuz you have those site links that come up with AIO's. You have no idea if it's going to be a paid or a organic result. And maybe you have to pay. Maybe they'll get rid of all the
organic results. I don't know. >> I believe that SEOs are going to finally get it together and understand that this is a huge business opportunity right now to reshift refocus and reframe what we do and truly get the opportunities that we've always deserved. [music] >> How you going to prove that? >> I'm not. You're just going to watch and see. >> Catch the other videos to find out what else we ask these experts.
Key takeaways
Chapters
Q&A
Four experts share unproven beliefs: Gemini will outpace ChatGPT; SEO fundamentals will remain constant; ads will appear in AI Overviews with unclear paid/organic distinction; SEOs should reframe their role as a major business opportunity. — Ross Hudgens, Brie Anderson, Dana DiTomaso, Mike King
Brie Anderson responds that proof will come by watching the industry evolve over time rather than through immediate evidence. — Brie Anderson
Quotes
“I do think Gemini and Google are going to win, ChatGPT I think is going to become more of an afterthought.” — Ross Hudgens
“The fundamentals will stay fundamental. Everything else is just a little bit shiny right now.” — Brie Anderson
“I think that there are going to be ads coming to AI Overviews in some way. You won't be able to tell perhaps if something is an ad because you have site links that come up with AIOs.” — Dana DiTomaso
“SEOs are going to finally get it together and understand that this is a huge business opportunity right now to reshift, refocus and reframe what we do.” — Mike King