# The 15 AI Search and AEO Experts to Follow in 2026  
Last updated: Jul 8, 2026  
  
AEO Experts in short  
AEO is still evolving, but its impact on visibility is already real. We’ve curated a list of 15 experts and thought leaders who are publishing research, testing AI systems, and helping marketers navigate generative search with clarity. Follow them to stay ahead of how discovery is changing.  
  
## Table of Contents  
- [What makes an AEO expert?](/content/academy/aeo-experts/#what-makes-an-aeo-expert/index.html)  
- [How to choose the right AEO experts to follow](/content/academy/aeo-experts/#how-to-choose-the-right-aeo-experts-to-follow/index.html)  
- [The 15 AEO experts and thought leaders to follow in 2026](/content/academy/aeo-experts/#the-15-aeo-experts-and-thought-leaders-to-follow-in-2026/index.html)  
  
## What makes an AEO expert?  
AEO isn’t just SEO with a new acronym.  
[Answer engine optimization](/content/academy/answer-engine-optimization/index.html) sits at the intersection of search, AI systems, content strategy, and technical authority. It requires understanding how LLMs interpret entities, how generative search surfaces information, and how trust signals translate beyond blue links.  
  
## How to choose the right AEO experts to follow  
Before you go and follow every influencer in this list on LinkedIn, it’s important to understand that not every marketer needs to follow every voice.  
  
### If you’re an enterprise SEO or digital leader  
Look for experts who publish data-backed insights and speak to long-term strategy, not just tactical experimentation.  
  
### If you lead content or brand  
Follow experts who focus on authority, trust signals, and how generative search surfaces brands.  
  
### If you’re a technical SEO or data lead  
You’ll want to go deeper.  
  
### If you’re new to AEO  
Prioritize clarity over complexity.  
  
## The 15 AEO experts and thought leaders to follow in 2026  
### Aleyda Solís  
Founder, Orainti \| International SEO & AI Search Consultant  
**Category**: Enterprise SEO strategy & AI search education  
### Andy Lambert  
Principal Product Manager, Adobe Express \| Co-founder, ContentCal  
**Category**: Content, community & influence  
### Anna York  
AI SEO Systems Architect, Growth Architecture Studio  
**Category**: AI-integrated SEO strategy  
### Barry Schwartz  
CEO, RustyBrick \| Editor, Search Engine Roundtable  
**Category**: Search industry intelligence & AI monitoring  
### Carley Lake  
Seller Content Marketing \| Author, AI + Marketing Weekly  
**Category**: AI tools, workflows & modern marketing  
### Eli Schwartz  
Author of _Product-Led SEO_ \| Strategic SEO/AEO & Growth Advisor  
**Category**: Strategic SEO & AEO reframing  
### Kate Vasylenko  
Managing Partner/CEO, 42DM \| Member of CMO Alliance and Forbes Agency Council  
**Category**: B2B AI visibility & hybrid architecture  
### Kelsey Libert  
Co-Founder, Fractl \| Digital PR & SEO Strategist  
**Category**: Authority, earned media & AI visibility research  
### Lily Ray  
VP, SEO & AI Search, Amsive  
**Category**: Algorithm risk & AI search integrity  
### Pat Reinhart  
VP, Professional Services, Conductor  
**Category:** Enterprise SEO strategy & AI search reality checks  
### Peter Rota  
Senior Technical SEO Manager, HUB International \| Freelance SEO Consultant  
**Category**: Technical foundations & AI pragmatism  
### Rand Fishkin  
Co-Founder, SparkToro \| Co-Founder, Alertmouse \| Co-Founder Snackbar Studio  
**Category:** Audience research & expanding search definition  
### Rebecca Thorburn  
B2B GTM Marketing Strategist \| Fractional CMO \| Advisor  
**Category**: AI agent readiness & infrastructure  
### Ryan Law  
Director of Content Marketing, Ahrefs  
**Category**: Content systems & AI-driven SEO strategy  
### Steven Schneider  
CEO, TrioSEO  
**Category**: SEO-to-revenue systems  
### Vincent DeCastro  
Fractional VP/Director of GEO, AEO, and AI SEO \| President, The ABM Agency  
**Category**: AI ecosystems, measurement & machine buyers  
  
## FAQs about AEO experts  
### What makes someone an AEO expert?  
AEO is still emerging, which makes credibility especially important. The strongest experts build on proven SEO foundations while actively testing how AI systems retrieve, summarize, and recommend content, and they tie those insights to measurable business outcomes.  
### Who are the top AEO experts to follow right now?  
The top AEO experts are helping marketers adapt to generative search in real time. They publish original research, influence enterprise strategy, and translate SEO fundamentals into AI-driven visibility.  
### Are AEO experts different from traditional SEO experts?  
Often, yes. Many AEO thought leaders come from SEO, but they’re the ones actively adapting their expertise to generative search and AI-driven discovery right now.  
### How can marketers evaluate which AEO experts to trust?  
Prioritize evidence over hype. Look for data, case studies, and repeatable frameworks, and for voices that acknowledge uncertainty in a fast-moving space.  
### Where do AEO experts share their insights?  
Most publish on LinkedIn, newsletters, and industry blogs.