---
title: "Avenue Z and Profound Debut AI Search Breakthrough for Brands at SXSW 2026"
date: 2026-03-03
source: The AI Journal
source_url: https://aijourn.com/avenue-z-and-profound-debut-ai-search-breakthrough-for-brands-live-at-sxsw-2026/
tags: [sxsw-2026, ai-agents, innovation, workshop]
summary: Avenue Z and AI-tech unicorn Profound will co-lead a live AI Search Optimization (AEO) audit workshop at SXSW's Innovation Track, debuting technology that reveals how AI answer engines represent and recommend brands.
---

# Avenue Z and Profound Debut AI Search Breakthrough for Brands at SXSW 2026

Avenue Z, recently named to ADWEEK's 2026 AI Power 50, will co-lead a featured workshop at SXSW 2026 alongside AI-tech unicorn Profound on the Innovation Track Stage. The session debuts what they call the industry's first-ever live AEO (AI Engine Optimization) Brand Audit.

## The Workshop: "Conversation Culture"

The interactive workshop, **"Conversation Culture: A Live AEO / AI Search Audit for Brands,"** will demonstrate in real time how generative answer engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity interpret, represent, and recommend brands. Attendees will gain direct visibility into how their brand appears inside these AI systems and what influences that outcome.

"AI Search is the biggest platform shift in the history of marketing," said James Cadwallader, Co-founder and CEO of Profound. "As AI Agents act for consumers, brands need their own Agents influencing how they're understood and recommended."

Co-led by Tina Fleming (Avenue Z's VP of AI Strategy) and Nick Lafferty (Profound's Head of Growth Marketing), the workshop equips marketers with tools to evaluate discoverability, authority signals, and brand perception inside AI-native environments.

## Why It Matters

As AI-driven search increasingly shapes discovery and buying decisions, traditional SEO strategies are becoming insufficient. The AEO approach treats AI answer engines as a distinct platform requiring specialized optimization — a shift that could reshape how brands think about digital visibility.

"A lot of brands think they're doing the right things — SEO, PR, content — but it's all siloed," said Tina Fleming. "When we unify the strategy and pull the right levers, visibility moves fast."

Profound was recently named one of the Best AI Tools of 2026 by G2 and ranked #1 in G2's AEO Software category.

## Key Takeaways

- AI Search Optimization (AEO) is emerging as a new discipline distinct from traditional SEO
- The workshop marks the first live demonstration of brand audit technology for AI answer engines
- As AI agents increasingly mediate consumer decisions, brand visibility inside these systems becomes critical
- Relevant for anyone in marketing, PR, or brand strategy attending the Innovation Conference