In this episode of The Visibility Brief, Yext SVP of Marketing Rebecca Colwell is joined by Garrett Sussman, Director of Marketing at iPullRank, for a refreshingly human conversation about how people really search — and how AI is amplifying the psychology behind it.

Marketers love to talk about algorithms, platforms, and technical optimization. But what if the biggest variable in discovery isn’t the system at all — it’s the person behind the keyboard? How we frame questions, what we believe going in, and the bias we carry with us all shape the answers we get back, especially in AI-driven search experiences.

With a background in psychology, literature, and technical SEO, Garrett brings a unique perspective to the table. This episode explores how identity, bias, intent, and trust influence search behavior — and what brands can do to show up accurately, even when they’re not in control of the interface.

The episode breaks down:

Why search behavior is as much psychological as it is technical
Why two people can search the same thing and get totally different answers
The rise of conversational search
Why AI answers feel more trustworthy than links
How LLMs filter, summarize, and simplify information
Why reviews, forums, and social proof now shape brand visibility
What brands can influence in AI, even when they can’t control it

If you’ve felt like discovery is getting harder to predict – or harder to influence – this episode will give you a new lens. It’s not just about ranking for keywords anymore. It’s about understanding how people think, how AI interprets intent, and how brands can adapt by focusing on trust, structure, and a holistic, human-first approach. This episode will help you rethink visibility from the inside out.

How Psychology Shapes AI Search and Discovery