AI Changed Everything About Reputation Except What Actually Matters

In this episode of The Shift Code Podcast, host Pierre Le Manh is joined by Chad Latz, Chief Innovation Officer at Burson, to analyze the shifting mechanics of strategic communications. As generative search engines replace traditional lookup tools, brands face a zero-click reality where algorithms mediate public perception. Chad shares how Burson uses advanced cognitive models to calculate unexpected shareholder returns and predict public reactions in seconds, giving leaders an objective framework to protect their license to operate.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to measure reputation as a tangible financial asset using Reputation Capital
• Why Generative Engine Optimization is the new battlefield for brand visibility
• How Decipher uses cognitive AI to forecast audience reactions in real time
• The operational realities and hidden compute costs of scaling enterprise AI adoption
• How to build organizational trust by letting team members build customized agents

Chad Latz is Burson's Chief Innovation Officer, leading a team of AI-focused practitioners and partners across data, technology, and academia. In 2017, he articulated the agency's first AI strategy, and in 2023 he led the development and launch of Decipher, a cognitive AI platform that forecasts audience belief and engagement across reputation management, consumer marketing, and healthcare. He's been recognized on PRWeek's Power Book 50 and its "Dashboard 25: AI Edition," and PRovoke Media's 25 Most Innovative Professionals. A frequent industry speaker and commentator, Latz has presented at the Oxford University Generative AI Summit and been featured in PRWeek and Axios Communicators on AI and misinformation.