Search Without Queries: What Copilot, IndexNow, and AI Agents Really Mean for the Future of SEO
SEO is entering uncharted territory where queries vanish, and AI anticipates what users want before they type. In this episode of Performance SEO Unpacked, host Ruchi Pardal sits down with Krishna Madhavan, Principal Product Manager for the Web Data Platform at Microsoft AI, to unpack what “search without queries” really means. They explore how AI systems like Copilot shift SEO from rankings to relevance, citations, and trust in an anticipatory search world.
Timestamps
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | Introduction to Performance SEO Unpacked |
| 00:41 | Guest Introduction: Krishna Madhavan |
| 01:06 | Exploring the Big Shift in SEO: Search Without Queries |
| 03:00 | Content Optimization for AI-Driven Systems |
| 06:25 | Transition from Clicks to AI-Driven Engagement |
| 08:15 | IndexNow: The Future of Content Discovery |
| 12:33 | Freshness, Schema, and User Intent: Preparing for AI-Driven SEO |
| 16:18 | Content Strategy for AI-Driven Contexts |
| 19:05 | Personalization and Memory in AI Systems |
| 23:17 | Actionable SEO Recommendations for Technical Teams |
| 25:41 | Creating Content for AI and LLM Bots |
| 26:50 | Staying Ahead in the Evolving AI-Driven SEO Landscape |
“We’re moving from search and find to understand and assist. If you’re still optimizing for blue links, you’re already behind.” — Krishna Madhavan, Microsoft AI.
What You’ll Learn
You’ll learn how query-less search is redefining SEO, why Copilot shifts visibility from clicks to citations, and what signals matter most in AI-driven discovery. Krishna shares how IndexNow supports proactive content control, why clarity and knowledge density are key, and what practical steps SEOs can take to stay relevant in a world of anticipatory AI search.
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