What you lose when AI starts handling your conversations and decisions
A polished AI answer can hide missing context, flawed assumptions, and recommendations no one has properly questioned.
Topic: Human–computer interaction
The dehumanization of SEO: Displaced by code, ignored by communication
When SEO gets reduced to keywords, audits, and content production, software will always look cheaper. That’s where the real risk begins.
Your marketing agent is working. Can you see what informs its recommendations?
Agentic marketing works best when marketers can inspect the data and evidence driving an agent's recommendations.
When did 25% efficiency become not enough?
AI hype has created unrealistic expectations around automation, making meaningful productivity gains feel like failure.
WebMCP explained: Inside Chrome 146’s agent-ready web preview
WebMCP exposes structured website actions for AI agents. See how it works, why it matters, and how to test it in Chrome 146.
Are we ready for the agentic web?
The agentic web is emerging fast. Definitions, practical applications, and pros and cons help clarify what readiness really looks like.
Google research points to a post-query future for search intent
Google signals search’s next phase: small multimodal models on devices infer intent from behavior before a query is ever typed.
The future of SEO teams is human-led and agent-powered
The smartest SEOs won’t fight AI – they’ll lead it. Learn how human-led, agent-powered teams are building the next era of search success.
1.5 million chats reveal who uses ChatGPT and why
Large ChatGPT analysis finds global growth, a shrinking gender gap, and everyday tasks like writing and guidance driving most conversations.
How to make your AI-generated content sound more human
Refine your ChatGPT prompts to unlock longer, livelier, more human content – complete with tone, emotion, and storytelling that resonates.
Evaluating OpenAI’s Sora and other AI video generators
Explore how AI text-to-video models are reshaping content creation – based on hands-on tests, creator feedback, and practical use cases.
In 2025, the AI-infused world will require humans bring strategy and judgement
The new marketer is “Position-less” empowered to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency, execution, and personalization.
The art of AI-enhanced content: 8 ways to keep human creativity front and center
Reimagine content creation by using AI without losing your creative flair, guiding it to inject personality into every piece of content.
The restaurateur: A new essential human role in PPC and digital marketing
See how AI is redefining digital marketing and the vital human roles of teacher, doctor, pilot and restaurateur in successful PPC management.
Reimagining search in the AI era: Insights from ex-Bing Search director
Nobody notices when search engines work perfectly. but they notice when they don't – and more wisdom from Stefan Weitz.
Why AI can’t replace authentic client relationships
Gain AI-powered efficiency with chatbots, predictive analytics and other tools while preserving the essence of genuine customer interactions.
Enabling with technology, differentiating through humanity
As brands become increasingly digital, it's crucial to safeguard the human touch in your CX. Here are some tips for finding synergy.
Will traditional PPC agencies die out in the age of automation?
AI has become ubiquitous in modern life, and PPC management is no different.
Amazon’s Echo Show is a ‘1.0’ device, both exciting and frustrating
The new device hasn't yet found the right balance between voice and screen.
RIP DMOZ: The Open Directory Project is closing
As of March 14, DMOZ will no longer be available.
Google seeks to humanize its brand with new “Google Assistant” female persona
She seeks to be a 'companion' that is 'always there but never in the way.'
Google Maps app adds “Ok Google” voice command activation for hands free directions
Google improves voice search while using the Google Maps app.
The Bing Search Experience: A Practice In Italian Renaissance Art & User Perspective
A conversation with Emma Williams, Bing's lead designer and Executive General Manager.
Teens Embrace Voice Search, Many Adults Feel “Like Geeks” Using It
According to a voice search study commissioned by Google, the most smartphone-obsessed teens are using voice search every day. However many adults feel self-conscious or embarrassed when they talk to their smartphones. The study found that 45 percent of US adults said they felt “like a geek” talking to their phones. (Yet this is what […]
The Google State Of The Union: Strong Yet Vulnerable
Earlier today, Google published its annual Founders’ Letter. This is a kind of “Google State of the Union” missive that Google has published annually since it went public. Many bloggers picked up on the following remark in the document penned by Google CEO Larry Page: “[I]n many ways, we’re a million miles away from creating […]
SEO Smackdown: Download Time – Machine Speed Vs. Human Speed
Perceived download time is more important to searchers than actual download time. So why do SEOs focus on technocentric optimization strategies?
Ever Wanted To Be Siri? Apple Seeks A Writer
By now, everyone’s used to Siri’s wit. Tell her you love her, and Apple’s Siri digital assistant may respond that all you need is love — and an iPhone. Or that it will never work out. And she’s got jokes for a variety of other queries. But who’s the woman behind Siri? Or the man? […]
Grokr & Expect Labs: More Mobile Search Insurgents Appear
Just when you thought competition in search was effectively over, it starts to get interesting again. Over the past two weeks I’ve spoken to no less than four companies that say they are trying to reinvent “mobile search” for smartphones or tablets. I would almost guarantee there are more out there as well. These companies […]
The Ties Between Emotional Design & SEO
Shari, are you crazy? Search engines don’t have emotions! What does emotional design have to do with SEO? A lot more than you might think.
Five Visionaries Sum Up The Future Of Search: Part II
Over the past several months, I’ve been trying to crystal ball what the future of search might look like. I’ve had fascinating discussions with several visionaries in the industry, including Stefan Weitz (Microsoft), Shashi Seth (Yahoo), Hampus Jakobsson (RIM) and John Battelle (Federated Media). In my last column, I started to sum up the overarching […]
Usability & Internet Search Marketing: A More Unified Approach
For years there were two camps – website usability and search engine optimization. Rarely did they acknowledge each other, let alone work as a team. Each side argued they knew best how to make web pages findable in search engines. They’re both right. The website usability house is focused on human behavior. They follow along […]
Behind The Scenes With Google’s Logo Doodlers At SXSW
Search Engine Land has long been chronicling Google Doodles, the special logos the company produces to celebrate a wide variety of occasions. So, of course, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hear the stories behind the Doodles, when Doodle team creative lead Ryan Germick, along with user experience designer Marcin Wichary, took the stage […]
Interview With Hampus Jakobbson Part II: Plugging Into The Grid
In part one of my interview with Hampus Jakobbson, TAT Co-Founder and now Strategic Alliances EMEA at Research in Motion, we talked about user experiences designed for Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. As we continued to chat, we went into some fascinating territory that is literally right out of science fiction. TAT (short for The […]
Live Blogging the Bing Search Summit
I’m in San Francisco waiting for the start of the Bing Search Summit. There are a huge number of things rolling out this morning. It will be interesting to see what they emphasize and demonstrate here at the event. I’m not the master of live blogging that Danny is but I’ll do my best to […]
Understanding Search Usability – Part 2
In part 1 of Understanding Search Usability, I looked at search usability and the wide variety of search behaviors it addresses. SEO professionals tend to focus on query-related behavior, and web site usability professionals tend to focus on browsing behaviors. When both groups open their eyes and realize that all of these search behaviors are […]
Understanding Search Usability
The term “search usability” is widely misunderstood throughout a variety of industries: Web design/development, search engine marketing (SEM), online advertising, information sciences, human-computer interface (HCI), and usability industries. Even the term “usability” is misunderstood by search professionals. Every time I hear an SEO professional claim that his or her firm implements web site usability best […]
Search In The Year 2010: Part Two
Several weeks ago (seemingly years) Just Behave featured Part One of the summarized interviews with my personal dream team of search usability: Jakob Nielsen, the Web’s best-known usability guru Marissa Mayer, Google’s VP of user experience and interface design Michael Ferguson, one of the architects of Ask’s unique user experience Larry Cornett, the VP of […]
Q&A With Marissa Mayer, Google VP, Search Products & User Experience
Marissa Mayer has been the driving force behind Google’s Spartan look and feel from the very earliest days. In this wide-ranging interview, I talked with Marissa about everything from interface design to user behavior to the biggest challenge still to be solved with search as we currently know it. I had asked for the interview […]
Google & NASA Partner To Make NASA’s Data More Accessible
NASA has posted a press release that covers new details about the Google / NASA partnership announced earlier this year. In short, Google is going to bring in real-time weather information for Earth into Google Earth, plus make Google Moon and Google Mars more detailed with high-resolution 3-D imagery. In addition, they will explore more […]