Ahrefs lists 25 AI search researchers to follow for 2026
Ahrefs compiled a list of 25 experts in AI-driven search optimization (AEO/GEO) based on original research published since 2023. The selection criteria included original data collection, focus on AI search behavior (e.g., how ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews cite sources), meaningful sample sizes (e.g., 50+ prompts or 100+ survey respondents), and published write-ups. Kevin Indig tops…
Key points
- Ahrefs ranked 25 experts by original AI search studies published since 2023, requiring original data and meaningful samples (e.g., 50+ prompts).
- Kevin Indig leads with 36 studies, including LLM citation patterns, while Xibeijia Guan’s work shows AI Overviews cut clicks by **34.5%**.
- Researchers like Dan Petrovic and Louise Linehan studied grounding snippets, brand visibility, and the ineffectiveness of `/llms.txt` files.
The 25 Best AEO/GEO Experts to Follow in 2026
Ahrefs Blog · 3 November 2026
Loading the full article…
This text was published by Ahrefs Blog and written by Ryan Law. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
The headline, key points and digest above were generated by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources. Automated summaries can contain errors: the sources are the record. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. Published by Martin K., who runs Digest AI and handles corrections.
More in Marketing & Small Business
All →- Shopify misses Q3 estimates: Gross Merchandise Volume underwhelms · 1 src
- Evernote reports higher trial-to-paid conversion via ChatGPT Ads · 1 src
- ChatGPT consumer lead reports 1.2B users, 20% of Google’s search volume · 1 src
- Adobe reports AI agents surpassed human web traffic in June 2026 · 3 src
- OpenAI signs content deals with more than 20 publishers, boosting ChatGPT citations · 1 src
Comments
via GitHub Discussions