Monday, September 29, 2025, 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT
The landscape of online search behavior is transforming at unprecedented speed. While historical technology innovations (like ATMs) took decades to reshape consumer habits, generative AI is rapidly altering how prospective students discover and evaluate higher education institutions.
Over 50% of Gen Z users report abandoning websites with deep hierarchies in favor of platforms that present answers up-front through search or chat-based interactions. And by 2025, an estimated 90 million Americans are predicted to use generative AI as their primary search tool — a seismic shift from just 13 million in 2023.
Given today's prospective students are abandoning traditional website navigation, and expect direct, relevant answers to their questions, this rapid evolution demands modern content and technology strategies that can be implemented safely and quickly.
This session combines Carnegie's UX and content strategy expertise with Squiz's advanced search technology to deliver actionable insights to prepare for the rapid change in user search behavior. You'll learn specific and actionable approaches to content modeling, taxonomy implementation and governance structures that ensure your digital ecosystem remains discoverable and relevant in an AI-driven environment.