7 Focus Areas as AI Transforms Search and Customer Journey in 2026
AI is reshaping how people search, decide, and buy, with key shifts defining 2026 and the need to stay visible everywhere.
Search is changing faster than ever, and 2026 may be the year it fully breaks from the past. Over the last year, AI has reshaped how people discover, decide, and convert, collapsing the traditional customer journey and cutting touchpoints in half.
According to Gartner, AI-powered assistants and large language models (LLMs) will handle roughly 25% of global search queries by 2026, replacing many traditional search interactions. The effects are already being seen, with traffic from LLMs climbing at a rapid pace, signaling a massive shift in how users find information.
Marketers need to build strong content and experience flywheels, as answer engine optimization (AEO) and generative engine optimization (GEO) become critical priorities.
Bruce Clay, founder and president of Bruce Clay Inc., emphasizes the importance of adapting to these changes.
Author's Summary
AI transforms search and customer journey in 2026 with 7 key focus areas.
- AI-powered search queries
- Large language models (LLMs)
- Answer engine optimization (AEO)
- Generative engine optimization (GEO)
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