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Ryan Smedstad
AI Strategy & Solutions · AI Visibility & Web Performance
A decade-plus across Fortune 500s, agencies, and startups, with 10+ years building and leading teams. Architecting how organizations adapt to the AI era through strategy, workflow transformation, and solution design that pair strategic judgment with hands-on execution. Background in digital discovery, web performance, and cross-functional marketing operations. Building tools and writing on AI strategy, discovery, and the shifts reshaping how organizations work.
Latest
Work
Currently helping shape AI strategy, leading a team driving solution development, and partnering across enterprise marketing and communications. Workflow transformation, custom tool design, and advisory to leadership on how AI reshapes digital discovery, user behavior, and marketing operations.
Writing
Notes on AI strategy, AI-era discovery, workflow transformation, and the shifts reshaping how organizations adopt and deploy AI.
Part 1
The State of AI: A 2025 Lookback
From 50 million users to over 800 million in under three years, 2025 was the year AI went from product to infrastructure. A data-driven lookback at the year's biggest shifts in models, hardware, adoption, business use, regulation, and the open web.
Part 2
AI-Driven Shifts for 2026
Where AI platforms compete next, how enterprises are adopting AI tools, and what the open web tension means for content creators and businesses in 2026.
Capabilities
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Transformation
AI Strategy & Implementation
Shaping enterprise AI strategy and building the solutions that deliver on it. Workflow transformation, custom tool development, and partnership across marketing, IT, and product teams.
- AI Transformation
- Applied AI
- Workflow Redesign
- Responsible AI
- Solution Design
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Leadership
Team Building & People Development
10+ years building and leading teams across Fortune 500 agency work and enterprise transformation. Direct and manager development, hiring, and mentorship that grows careers.
- People Management
- Hiring
- Coaching
- Mentorship
- Stakeholder Comms
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Discovery
SEO & Digital Discovery
A decade-plus across digital marketing strategy and technical implementation, now focused on how AI is reshaping discoverability across the full digital stack.
- AI-Era Search
- Semantic Optimization
- Site Architecture
- Global SEO
- Performance & Crawlability
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Systems
AI Systems & Data Insights
Designing and deploying intelligent systems that pair AI capabilities with analytical rigor. Complex inputs turned into clear, actionable outputs.
- Agentic AI
- Workflow Orchestration
- Analytical Design
- Data Visualization
- RAG & Vector Indexing
Featured Work
AI Tools
AI Visibility Readiness
Assesses a domain's readiness for AI visibility by evaluating site infrastructure, homepage optimization, inclusion in commonly cited AI datasets, and other discovery signals. Returns a scored breakdown with recommendations.
Application
Whisk
A smart recipe manager for finding, storing, and organizing recipes, with AI-assisted substitutions, meal planning, and shopping lists.
Connect
Interested in discussing AI transformation, digital strategy, or potential collaborations? I'm always open to connecting with fellow innovators and organizations ready to drive transformation.