A Fresh Take on AI at TechFest 2026

Yesterday, 19th of February 2026, we were proud to host part of Worcestershire TechFest at Fresh Nous HQ, welcoming a brilliant mix of business owners, technologists and leaders through our doors for “A Fresh Take on AI.”

It was energising, honest and properly practical. Exactly how we like it.

Over two sessions, Marketing Strategy in the AI Era and AI Prompt Engineering , we explored not just how to use AI tools, but how to think differently about visibility, authority and output in a world where search has fundamentally changed.

The Search Revolution: Being In the Answer

One of the biggest shifts we discussed is this:

Traditional search gave us 10 blue links.
AI search gives 2–3 recommendations and a direct answer.

As we shared on the day, the impact is clear:
Being in the answer is what matters.

Customers are no longer hunting through websites. They’re asking conversational questions and expecting synthesised responses. Zero-click decisions are becoming the norm. That changes the search landscape.

We explored how to become the brand that AI cites, not just the brand that ranks. We talked specifically about real game hangers.

• Trade press and industry mentions
• Strong reviews and case studies
• Clear structure and direct answers
• Fresh, relevant content

The conversations around this were some of the most interesting of the morning.

“What if someone deliberately writes a bad review?”

It’s a real concern and a fair question.

Our view? Reviews matter because they signal trust, but one negative review rarely damages a strong overall profile. What does damage trust is silence. Own your review pages, respond to ALL the feedback.

Responding professionally, calmly and publicly shows transparency and leadership. AI systems look for patterns, not perfection. A consistent body of positive feedback, clear policies and visible expertise outweigh isolated negativity.

Reputation isn’t about being flawless. It’s about being credible.

Trade Press Is Digital PR (And AI Is Watching)

Another key theme was the “full circle” of visibility.

For years, trade press was seen as brand credibility. As printed media declined, the role of trade press in a marketing mix became a constant question for marketers Now, it holds a critical role as digital PR. It feeds backlinks, industry mentions and signals authority,  all of which influence how AI systems decide who to cite.

Authority. Relevance. Trust.

The three pillars we discussed as critical to getting cited by AI.

If AI is summarising the best providers in your sector, are you mentioned in the places it scans?

That question landed with the room.

AI as Assistant, Not Author

Part two of the session shifted focus from visibility to productivity.

AI should give you speed. You add judgement.

As we shared: AI = Assistant, not Author.

Used well, AI can:

• Draft first versions
• Surface patterns in data
• Repurpose content
• Accelerate insight

But it still needs expertise, context and critical thinking layered on top.

We also walked through practical tools — from ChatGPT and Claude to HubSpot AI and Google AI Overview — and where each one works best (and where it doesn’t).

The message was simple:
You don’t need more tools. You need fewer tools working better together.

Prompt Engineering: Brief AI Like a Colleague

If you’ve ever asked AI for something and received something unusable, it’s usually a prompting problem and it’s fixable.

We introduced the RAFT Framework:

• Role – Who should AI be?
• Action – What exactly do you want?
• Format – How should it look?
• Tone – How should it sound?

Good prompts are specific. You give AI the context you’d give a colleague.

One of the biggest takeaways? Tone matters. A lot.
And telling AI what you don’t want can be just as important as telling it what you do want.

We also shared our “gravity prompt” — using AI as a critical friend to stress-test ideas rather than simply validate them. That sparked some brilliant discussion.

Thank You, TechFest

We loved being part of Worcestershire TechFest and welcoming such a wide range of connections into Fresh Nous HQ.

There’s something powerful about bringing people together in person to talk openly about what’s changing and what isn’t.

AI is moving fast. Strategy, authority and trust still matter.

If you joined us thank you for the conversations, the questions and the honesty.

If you couldn’t make it but would like to explore how your business can become the brand that AI and people choose, we’d love to continue the conversation.

We’re one step ahead.
We love different.
And we’re in this together.