Video: What the data actually shows – and what brands should do about it | Duration: 2708s | Summary: Yext senior editorial manager, Lauryn Chamberlain walks through three findings from our global survey of 3,848 adults – on AI adoption, the verification loop, and why the buyer journey is more fluid than most brands assume. With Garrett Sussman (iPullRank), Brad Schafer (Google), and Amber Wilcox (United Rentals). What you’ll learn:The tipping point has already happened. 42.7% of consumers globally used AI for local search in the past month. Among high-income North American households, that number reaches 61% – and AI now outpaces Google as their starting point.Trust is real. Verification is too. 75% of AI users rate their trust in AI recommendations at 4 or 5 out of 5. But 95% still take an additional step before acting – searching Google, checking reviews, visiting a website. The verification loop runs at every stage.AI isn’t just top-of-funnel. Consumers use AI to compare options, do deep research, find deals, and get quick answers – sometimes in the same session. There’s no single moment to show up. Brands that get cited confidently across the whole journey win. Expert Insights:Garrett Sussman (iPullRank): "AI is almost unavoidable now—it's being inserted into Maps, Google Business Profiles, and search results. The 42% adoption rate will continue to grow."Brad Schafer (Google): "Queries are becoming 2-3 times longer and more personal. Users are willing to wait a few extra seconds for more accurate, conversational answers."Amber Wilcox (United Rentals): "Traffic isn't disappearing—it's shifting. We're looking at how consumer behavior changes across new touchpoints like ChatGPT, Maps, and Reviews." | Chapters: Welcome and Introduction (3s), AI Search Adoption (164s), Foundational Content Strategy (555s), AI Trust and Verification (721s), Verification Layer Strategy (994s), AI Search Strategy (1284s), AI Strategy Integration (1563s), Personal AI Usage (2001s), Personal AI Stories (2280s), Conclusion & Resources (2439s) Video: Ash Shah, Yext Innovator Community | Duration: 1264s | Summary: Summary:In this video, Ash Shah, a growth and marketing executive and Yext Innovator community member, shares insights on how AI is transforming customer acquisition, brand discoverability, and revenue optimization. Drawing from Yext's 2026 Consumer Search Behavior Report, Ash discusses how AI adoption is reshaping consumer journeys—particularly for high-income demographics—and why marketers must shift from keyword-focused SEO to trust-driven, sentiment-optimized strategies. The conversation emphasizes reviews as core acquisition assets, the importance of first-party data, and the emerging role of predictive AI in shaping intent-based discovery. Notable insight:"A five-star reputation is more valuable than a first-page ranking on Google today." — Ash Shah | Chapters: Welcome and Introductions (0s), AI-Driven Revenue Impact (71s), AI Algorithm Evolution (143s), AI Verification Behavior (424s), Reviews as Growth Assets (613s), Future of AI Marketing (968s), Closing Thoughts (1130s) Video: Leonard Sullivan, Yext Innovator Community | Duration: 1049s | Summary: In this video, Leonard Sullivan, Digital Marketing Manager at Beltone, discusses how AI-powered local search is reshaping customer acquisition in the healthcare industry. With insights from Yext's 2026 consumer survey, Leonard explores the growing adoption of AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini in patient discovery journeys, the importance of multi-channel verification, and strategies for optimizing both national and local SEO in the AI era. Notable Insight:As Leonard notes, "Optimize for access, trust, and consistency — those things have always mattered in local SEO, and they ladder up to what an LLM needs to recommend your business." | Chapters: Welcome & Introductions (0s), AI Trust and Verification (43s), AI Local Search Trends (143s), Customer Verification Journey (231s), Digital Ecosystem Health (400s), Reviews and Validation (497s), Optimizing Customer Journey (631s), National-Local Strategy (748s), Final Expert Advice (907s)