AI Search is Mainstream
GEO is the current buzzword among media intelligence folks. Yext has released a new report telling us why. The report, based on a survey of over 2,200 people across the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany, identifies six “search archetypes” with different search behaviors and expectations. While AI tools are increasingly trusted, traditional search engines still lead for product details and business information, with only 19% of consumers trusting AI search tools versus 45% trusting traditional search engines for local search. The research highlights the fragmentation of search behaviour across platforms, with customers moving between AI, search engines, and social platforms based on their intent, requiring brands to maintain visibility across multiple channels with consistent, structured data.
iSentia accused of tax evasion by Thai police
A former executive of iSentia has been arrested in Thailand over suspected tax evasion charges. David Liu, 71, who previously served as Isentia’s Asia CEO, was apprehended at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport while attempting to board a flight to Singapore. Thai authorities allege that Liu was involved in evading value-added tax through fraudulent means during his time at iSentia. iSentia says the proceedings are “without foundation” and it is confident they will be dismissed.
Media Intelligence Product Updates
Here are some of the product announcements that caught our attention this month:
NewsWhip has launched an AI Monitoring Agent designed to monitor global news, detect narrative and business risks as they emerge, and provide alerts and context to help communications teams decide when and how to respond. The platform, which has raised over $20 million from investors including the Associated Press and is used by major brands like Google and Walmart, tracks engagement in real-time across both mainstream and emerging sources, using a high-frequency data engine that indexes millions of stories per hour combined with a dynamic scoring layer that predicts momentum and distinguishes signal from noise.
BuzzStream has launched ListIQ, an AI-powered media list-builder that helps PR professionals create targeted media lists from Google News searches, collecting key journalist information such as verified email addresses and recent articles.
Signal Raptor has officially launched as a tech-powered “done-with-you” PR platform designed to make media visibility accessible to small businesses, solopreneurs, and startups, with subscriptions starting at $750 per month that include weekly pitching, article creation, press releases, and influencer coordination. Founded by Navy Special Operations veteran and PR agency executive Austin Holmes, the platform has already helped dozens of brands land coverage in outlets like BuzzFeed and Inside Edition during its beta phase.
Birdelo has been unveiled as a rebranded and relaunched PR-tech platform by entrepreneurs Nikki Carlson and Kailynn Bowling, who originally built the technology in 2008 to streamline brand-to-media communications and have now enhanced it with AI tools and smart search capabilities. The platform connects brands with media outlets including The Today Show, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health Magazine, allowing journalists to efficiently browse story ideas, request samples, download assets, and discover brands ready for coverage or affiliate partnerships.
Hypetap has announced the European launch of its elite market-intelligence tool ‘Hypetap Intelligence’ to measure the performance of influencer campaigns for brands, providing insights into influencer share of voice, sentiment benchmarking, and campaign effectiveness by analysing over 10 billion data points. After launching in the APAC market last year, the tool is now available to European clients through the agency’s London office, with clients including Kraft Heinz and Colgate Palmolive already utilising the platform to gain deeper understanding of how consumers think, feel, and behave regarding their brands.
Dataminr has achieved ISO/IEC 42001 certification for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems, becoming one of the first 40 organisations worldwide to earn this distinction which establishes a framework for responsible AI governance including risk management and reliability.
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