AEO is the new SEO: How AI is rewriting the digital playbook

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Carl returns from a July break with Bernadette Heier of Food on Demand to unpack five stories that signal where restaurant tech is heading next.

01:00 – Olo acquired by Thoma Bravo
• $2B all-cash deal
• A chance to reset outside the public markets
• Could this unlock faster innovation?

04:30 – OpenTable’s AI Concierge
• Built with OpenAI and Perplexity
• Answers 80% of diner questions
• Visibility now depends on how up-to-date your listing is

09:00 – Golden Corral’s Flybuy-powered pickup
• Off-premises rebrand: Golden Corral Favorites
• Flybuy tracks customer approach to time food perfectly
• Reflects the rise of drive-thru-style formats from legacy brands

12:05 – AEO: Answer Engine Optimization
• 70% of Google searches now end with no click
• Video builds audience—but not search visibility
• Q&A-style web content is the key to getting found by AI

18:20 – VenHub at LAX
• Automated grab-and-go using robotic arms
• $250K startup cost, $300M in preorders
• A new frontier in frictionless convenience

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