Search Forward: Protecting brand visibility in the age of AI

Will your business be found if AI can’t (or won’t) see you?

AI-powered search is reshaping how B2B buyers discover, evaluate and shortlist suppliers. Traditional SEO still matters, but it’s no longer enough on its own. Increasingly, brands are being surfaced (or excluded) based on authority, credibility and third-party validation. Those principles aren’t new, but the gatekeepers are.

Join Magenta Associates for an exclusive evening of insight, debate and strategy as we share findings from our latest research into how AI is reshaping the B2B buyer journey and what marketing leaders should do next.

Why this event matters now

Research suggests that 89% of B2B buyers are now using LLMs during their purchasing process. Yet, in a rush to adapt, many brands are churning out bland content that AI models (let alone the intended audiences) simply ignore.

The old rules no longer apply. Marketing leaders are now grappling with questions like:

· If AI answers the question directly, how does my brand become the answer?

· What role does the media now play in visibility?

· If most employees are already using AI without a policy, what does that mean for brand trust and reputation?

· And how do we govern AI use internally so our brand doesn’t add to the growing tide of low-quality content?

This event draws on original research to answer those questions.

Who should attend

This event is designed specifically for communicators, marketing directors and business leaders who are responsible for protecting their brand's visibility and reputation. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of the challenges and practical ways to respond.

The programme

17:00: Arrival, drinks & "shadow AI confessions"

17:30: Opening address

17:35: Expert panel discussion: the new rules of engagement.

18:40: Audience Q&A followed by networking

The speakers

Hosted by the managing director of Magenta Associates, our panel features leading voices from across the digital ecosystem.

Andrew Bruce Smith, AI PR & comms technologist: As a CIPR Fellow and Chair of the AI in PR panel, Andrew has consulted with or trained employees from over 3000 organisations, including government departments, NGOs and global brands on topics such as AI (artificial intelligence), digital PR, analytics, SEO and social media. He’s co-authored two books on the changes taking place in the media and its professions, and contributed a chapter on AI and automation for Platinum, a book showcasing excellence in public relations.

Mark Eltringham, publisher of Workplace Insight, In & Works - Mark has worked in the office design, built environment, workplace and facilities management sectors for over 30 years as a marketing professional, consultant, editor and writer. At the start of 2013, he launched www.workplaceinsight.net, an online publication that explores the relationships between commercial interior design, workplace management, technology, human resources, the wider business world and society. In 2020, he launched IN Magazine, which is Europe's foremost publication exploring working lives, technology, flexible working and workplace management. In 2022, he launched Works magazine in partnership with Mick Jordan and Ben Capper - the leading dedicated workplace interiors title in the UK and Europe.

Antony Cousins, Comms & AI Strategist, PRWeek’s 'AI 25' for 2026 - Antony champions the integration of AI into the PR and comms profession. With over 20 years of experience in communications, PR and technology, including over 10 years in AI, he has a track record of developing and deploying innovative solutions to fundamental problems. Named in PRWeek’s 'AI 25' for 2026, Antony helps brands and agencies navigate fake news and cancel culture in an era of generative AI.

Jo Sutherland is an AI communications specialist and Managing Director of Magenta Associates, an award-winning, employee-owned and B Corp certified communications consultancy based in Brighton. She leads PR and marketing campaigns for purpose-led organisations, with a particular focus on clear, effective and responsible comms strategies that build audience engagement and trust. Drawing on a career in communications and journalism, Jo is now pursuing a second Master’s degree in AI, Ethics and Society at the University of Cambridge. Her work sits at the intersection of AI, communications and media, with a focus on how emerging technologies are reshaping creative practice, organisational decision-making and public trust. At Cambridge, Jo’s research examines AI’s societal and environmental impacts, alongside the opportunities and risks of its adoption in business. She is also a co-facilitator of an upcoming AI literacy CPD programme for professionals run in partnership with the University of Sussex.

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Wallacespace Clerkenwell, 18 Clerkenwell Green, London, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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