“You Are Being Described” AI, Authority, and the End of Discovery | a Reflect Podcast by Ed Fassio

The internet is no longer just pointing us to information. It is increasingly answering for us.

In this episode of Reflect, Ed Fassio explores a quiet but consequential shift taking place beneath our everyday searches. As artificial intelligence transforms the internet from a collection of links into a narrative interface, organizations are no longer merely discovered. They are described.

Research shows that people now rely more heavily on AI-generated summaries than on original sources, trusting fluent answers without following the trail. But large language models are not neutral narrators. They hallucinate, improvise, and confidently get things wrong. In this new reality, traditional search optimization is no longer enough to protect truth, trust, or reputation.

Ed introduces the emerging concept of AI Conversational Readiness (ACR), a framework for understanding and governing how machines speak on behalf of organizations. Rather than focusing on persuasion or ranking, ACR centers on accuracy, verification, and accountability. It treats AI output not as marketing copy, but as operational representation, aligning with rising regulatory expectations such as the EU AI Act.

This episode is not about fear or hype. It is about preparedness.

Because when the internet speaks, accuracy is no longer optional. It is infrastructure.