Ep. 39 The Future of Search: Mastering AEO and "Sightless SEO" with Michael Buckbee
Watch or Listen to Episode 39 of The Pennock Knockdown.
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In this episode of The Pennock Knockdown, Nikki sits down with Michael Buckbee, founder of Knowatoa, to explore the brave new world of AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Michael is a seasoned demand gen leader turned SaaS founder who built a "secret weapon" for brands to track how they are being represented across the AI landscape—from TikTok and Instagram’s exposure in search results to the real-time "deep research" modes of modern LLMs.
Together, Nikki and Michael discuss why the largest AI player on the planet is still Google and how their transition to "AI Overviews" is rewriting the contract between brands and the open web.
One of the most provocative concepts Michael introduces is "Sightless SEO"—a scenario where a consumer makes a purchasing decision without ever visiting a brand's website. Michael shares how OpenAI’s relationship with Shopify and Amazon’s AI assistant, Rufus, allow users to ask complex questions like, "What is the best foundation for sensitive skin with a warm undertone?" and receive a direct product recommendation. If your brand isn’t "fed" into the model correctly, you don’t just rank lower—you don’t exist in that conversation at all.
The era of obsessing over 81-character meta descriptions is fading. Michael argues that AI search is turning SEO back into a brand marketing role. He explains that most "AI hallucinations"—where a chatbot says something incorrect about a company—are actually just "knowledge gaps." Instead of technical fixes, these require creative content strategies. By writing articles that address specific brand values or testing protocols, marketers can provide the "voracious" AI models with the data they need to represent the brand accurately.
How do you measure success when traffic is down but intent is high? Michael introduces the BISCUIT framework, a strategy designed to help marketers focus on:
Bots: Ensuring AI crawlers aren't blocked by technical hurdles.
Indexing: Establishing your brand as a clear entity.
Sentiment: Shaping how AI perceives your reputation.
Competitive Ranking: Tracking recommendations against rivals.
Unique Data: Distributing content to high-authority platforms.
Intelligence: Proving value through AI visibility metrics.
Truthfulness: Eliminating hallucinations via accurate data.
In the world of AI SEO, mentions on social media and third-party reviews often carry more weight than your homepage, as AI models use these as "citations" to verify your authority.
Michael predicts that Google is moving toward a model where web search is no longer a free utility but a pay-to-play ecosystem. To survive, brands must focus on building a "Capital B" Brand—a distinct niche identity that creates a competitive advantage across social, search, and AI. If you aren't a recognizable authority in your niche, the next decade of digital marketing will be an uphill battle.
In this episode, we cover:
00:00 Intro & Origin Story: Michael’s transition to AI search.
01:55 The Google Factor: Why Gemini and AIOs are the biggest shift in decades.
04:28 Sightless SEO: How Shopify and Amazon Rufus are changing the journey.
07:53 The BISCUIT Framework: Shifting from traffic to AI citations.
10:57 Fixing Hallucinations: Filling knowledge gaps for AI.
15:21 The Schema Myth: Why "talking to a toddler" beats complex coding.
19:41 The Wells Fargo Example: How AI aggregates brand reputation.
23:18 "Capital B" Branding: Why niche authority is your only defense.
Guest: Michael Buckbee
Ready to scale your DTC Beauty or Lifestyle Brand in the age of AI? For more insights or to inquire about our Paid Media services, visit pennock.co.