In this episode, James Dooley sits down with AI SEO expert Brian Kato to explore how businesses can optimize for Google Gemini AI Overviews in 2026. Brian explains why traditional SEO fundamentals still matter but must now be enhanced with brand signals, third-party validation, press releases, and social proof to appear in AI-generated results. They discuss why ranking #1 in Google doesn’t always guarantee inclusion in AI Overviews, the growing importance of brand reputation and corroboration, and how multimodal signals like press releases, social media video, community platforms, and third-party mentions influence AI visibility. Brian also shares insights from his cybersecurity background on brand hijacking risks and why businesses must dominate the first two pages of Google for their brand queries.