As 2025 ends, AI has become a core part of everyday SEO efforts, changing how we create, optimize, and measure results.
I’ve spent the year following professionals who didn’t just adapt to these shifts but helped define them. They experiment with language models, automation, and data-driven workflows that shape how search will evolve next year.
These are the top 10 SEO experts I believe will lead the conversation on AI and redefine what effective optimization means in 2026.
SEO experts 2026 – At a Glance
| Expert | Brand | Known For |
| Milosz Krasiński | Chilli Fruit Web Consulting | Link building, GEO and AI visibility |
| Katarina Dahlin | Genero / WhitePress® | AI automation and eCommerce SEO workflows |
| Thomas Vavougios | Greek SEO Community / Gamdom | Leading Greece’s SEO community and organizing the SEO Athens Summit. |
| Craig Campbell | Craig Campbell SEO | Teaching AI-assisted SEO and content automation |
| Szymon Słowik | Takaoto | AI-mode SEO, NLP research, and entity-based optimization |
| Matt Digity | The Search Initiative | AI forecasting and predictive SEO for organic growth |
| Jason Brooks | UK Linkology / Reachology / Wordologists | M-Flux formula and advancing AI-powered link intelligence models |
| Viktoria Altman | BSPE Legal Marketing | Ethical AI storytelling and PR-led SEO |
| Maja Jovancevic | Gaming Innovation Group | Building adaptable, AI-ready SEO frameworks |
1. Technical Strategists and Automation Architects
Let me introduce myself first. I’m Milosz Krasinski, and I run Chilli Fruit Web Consulting, a boutique SEO and digital PR agency that focuses on link building, organic visibility, and AI-powered content optimization for Fortune 500 and SaaS companies. I’ve worked with brands like SurferSEO, Brand24, and UserPilot to improve their keyword rankings and domain authority through systematic outreach and long-term backlink strategies.
Over the past year, I’ve repositioned my agency to specialize in AI visibility – optimizing for Google’s AI Overviews, GEO, and building AI-assisted SEO workflows. I’m also active in the European SEO community and often speak at conferences.
Miosz Krasinski
Owner
Milosz Krasiński runs Chilli Fruit Web Consulting and specializes in AI visibility and Digital PR. He focuses on optimizing content for LLM visibility or AI-powered search results like Google’s AI Overviews and connecting AI tools with practical link building. He’s followed because he helps brands adapt to how AI is changing SEO in 2026.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miloszkrasinski
Katarina Dahlin
Senior Growth Hacker
Katarina Dahlin is a Senior Growth Hacker at Genero and WhitePress®. She specialises in AI-driven SEO and automation for eCommerce brands, building custom GPT workflows and scalable optimisation systems.
She often speaks at events such as SEOday and SEO Vibes, sharing insights on AI visibility and automation across Nordic and global markets.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarina-dahlin
Thomas Vavougios
SEO Consultant & Founder of Greek SEO Community
Thomas Vavougios is one of the most prominent SEO specialists in Greece and Cyprus, with over a decade of digital marketing experience and eight years dedicated solely to SEO. He has built and led SEO operations for international brands across multiple industries, driving consistent growth through scalable frameworks, automation, and cross-team integration.
He founded the Greek SEO Community, the largest and most active SEO group in Greece, where he organizes meetups and major events such as the SEO Athens Summit. The conference attracts global experts like Kyle Roof, Craig Campbell, and Ferry Kaszoni.
Thomas also serves as a judge for the Global and UK Search Awards and regularly speaks at international events, including ICON Cyprus and SEO Vibes Greece. I think what sets him apart is his hands-on leadership style: he doesn’t just teach SEO; he builds ecosystems that advance it.
He’s followed because his initiatives actively elevate the Greek SEO scene while connecting it with the broader global community.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-vavougios-seo/
Craig Campbell
SEO consultant
Craig Campbell is a Scottish SEO consultant at Craig Campbell SEO, trainer, and speaker with over 20 years of experience.
He was among the first to use AI tools like Jasper, SurferSEO, and Koala Writer for content automation and SEO education. Craig also promotes using AI while maintaining also E-E-A-T principles and human oversight in content strategy.
I first met Craig Campbell in 2018, and we’ve been very close friends since. He was my SEO mentor. He connected me with many SEO people in the industry, and my career took off.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigcampbell0302
2. AI-Driven Researchers and Framework Builders
Szymon Słowik
Founder
Szymon Słowik is the founder of takaoto.pro, a Polish agency focused on AI-mode SEO and NLP optimization. He researches how large language models interpret search queries, rank content, and shape visibility in Google’s AI Overviews.
Szymon is also a great friend of mine, and I had the pleasure of joining his podcast episode on Off-site SEO w erze AI: rozmowa z Miłoszem Krasińskim, where we discussed how AI transforms link building and search visibility. He’s followed because his experiments and insights help SEO specialists refine structured data, topical authority, and entity-driven optimization.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/szymonslowik
Matt Diggity
Founder
Matt Diggity, founder of Diggity Marketing and The Search Initiative, uses AI forecasting to track ranking trends and search traffic patterns. Diggity is followed because his practical use of machine learning helps SEO specialists adapt faster to changes in search engines and AI Overviews.
I know him personally – we had a nice chat on how his predictive SEO models combine entity monitoring, AI tools, and affiliate data to uncover new keyword opportunities and improve organic traffic growth.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattdiggityseo
Jason Brooks
Founder
Jason Brooks is the founder of UK Linkology, Reachology, and Wordologists, leading UK agencies in link building, digital PR, and AI-assisted content strategy. He co-developed the M-Flux formula, a data-driven system that measures backlink quality through traffic and semantic relationships.
Brooks now focuses on AI-powered SEO workflows, using generative models to analyze topical clusters and search intent. He is followed because his research in AI-driven link intelligence helps SEO specialists refine ranking strategies and build authority in AI Overviews.
Jason has moved from the UK to Cyprus, to Paphos, so he’s literally my neighbor.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbrooks
3. Content Visionaries and Ethical Builders
Viktoria Altman
PR and SEO strategist
Viktoria Altman is a U.S.-based PR and SEO strategist who leads BSPE Legal Marketing. She helps law firms use AI tools to strengthen brand credibility and transparency without losing human voice.
Through her Law Firm Accelerator Podcast, she explains how AI-generated content and search engines reward authenticity and ethical storytelling. Altman is recognized because she promotes responsible AI use in digital marketing and reputation management.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktoria-altman
Maja Jovancevic
Head of SEO
Maja Jovancevic is Head of SEO at Gaming Innovation Group and Gentoo Media. She focuses on building sustainable SEO teams and adaptable workflows that integrate AI tools into content creation and optimization.
Jovancevic mainly trains teams in iGaming and affiliate marketing to align AI automation with user intent, technical SEO, and E-E-A-T. She is followed because her leadership approach helps SEO professionals maintain stability as AI transforms the SEO industry.
We first met at the Icon conference in Limassol, speaking at the same stage and we’ve been chatting a lot on WhatsApp ever since. She’s one of those Queen-like iGaming ladies.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jovancevicmaja
4. Honourable Mentions
George Blandford – Co-owner of UK Linkology, known for co-developing the M-Flux formula to assess backlink quality. He applies AI tools to refine link-building processes, using machine learning to identify trust signals and improve off-page SEO performance.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linkninja
Néstor Vázquez – SEO consultant at Seota Digital Marketing, focused on technical SEO, local optimization, and growth systems for B2B clients. He integrates AI and automation to enhance site architecture, intent targeting, and visibility across international markets.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nestorvazquez
Kristján Már Ólafsson – independent SEO consultant known for integrating AI insights into international SEO systems. He is recognized because of his balanced SEO methods and AI-driven signals that strengthen search engine optimization across global markets.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristjan-mar-olafsson
Russell Lobo – founder of Russ Lobo (GEO/AEO agency for eCommerce Brands) and WHLinks (Outreach-driven SEO Link Building Agency). He helps eCommerce brands increase their sales by being visible on AI search platforms like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russelllobo/
Nikola Baldikov – founder of InBound Blogging and SERPsGrowth, where he applies AI search optimization tactics to build scalable organic visibility for SaaS and digital brands. He has extensive experience with NLP tools for content optimization and develops AI-assisted programmatic SEO strategies. Known for his precision in adapting SEO for the future, Nikola is among the experts redefining how authority is built in the age of generative search.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikola-baldikov-7215a417/
Jaan Porkon – founder and CEO of Priority Prospect, a global leader in IP address and hosting services designed to power the needs of SEO agencies and professionals. By combining advanced technical innovation with deep SEO expertise, he has built hosting solutions that redefine performance, scalability, and reliability. Under his direction, Priority Prospect has grown into a trusted global platform for the world’s best SEO agencies.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaan-porkon/
Trifon Boyukliyski – SEO and iGaming expert with 15+ years of experience. He has led SEO for over 50 regulated brands, transforming visibility into revenue through fast, user-focused websites. Tracking key iGaming metrics, he ensures growth that’s compliant, predictable, and profitable, delivering SEO that drives results and builds trust.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trifonboyukliyski/
Final Thoughts
The best SEO experts in 2026 challenge habits, test ideas, and share what they learn so the entire SEO community moves forward. Their work proves that AI, automation, and human judgment can function together when guided by transparency and intent.
In 2026, I will continue to develop Chilli Fruit Web Consulting with the same mindset: combining AI-driven systems, online visibility, and SEO strategies that help businesses grow.
For anyone exploring how traditional SEO evolves through AI, I’ll keep sharing my findings across talks, interviews, and studies throughout 2026.
FAQs
Is Matt Cutts still in SEO?
No. Matt Cutts left SEO in 2013 to work for the U.S. government’s technology sector.
Is Danny Sullivan still an SEO expert?
No. Danny Sullivan serves as Google’s Search Liaison, handling communication and public relations instead of SEO consulting.
Is Neil Patel still doing SEO?
No. Neil Patel leads NP Digital and Ubersuggest, concentrating on SaaS development and business strategy rather than hands-on SEO work.
Is Brian Dean still an SEO consultant?
No. Brian Dean sold Backlinko to Semrush and now focuses on educational content and entrepreneurship.
Is Rand Fishkin still an SEO expert?
No. Rand Fishkin runs SparkToro, focusing on audience intelligence and marketing analytics instead of practising SEO.
