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How to Make Your Experts “AI-Ready"
AI is changing how people discover expertise. Today, journalists, event organizers, researchers, and the public increasingly turn to tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google Search’s AI summaries powered by Gemini. Instead of clicking through pages of links, they expect clear, credible answers—often delivered instantly, with citations. That shift has major implications for organizations. It’s no longer enough for your experts to “rank well.” They need to be understood, trusted, and accurately represented by AI systems. So the real question becomes: When AI talks about your experts, does it get it right? This is where LLMs.txt plays an important role—especially when paired with an ExpertFile-powered Expert Center. What is LLMs.txt (In Plain English)? ...and why is it essential for expert content LLMs.txt is a small, machine-readable file placed on your organization’s website—in the case of your expert content alongside your main Expert Center. Its purpose is simple: to explain your expertise to AI systems clearly and unambiguously. “AI systems don’t just scan for keywords; they look for clear meaning, consistent context, and clean formatting — precise, structured language makes it easier for AI to classify your content as relevant.” Microsoft: Optimizing Your Content for Inclusion in AI Search Answers Rather than forcing AI to infer meaning from scattered pages, LLMs.txt explicitly tells systems: Who your experts are Which pages represent official, curated content How expert profiles differ from articles, Q&A, or research content How your organization’s expertise should be interpreted as a whole Think of it as a table of contents and usage guide for AI —helping large language models understand your site the way a communications professional would. Why This Matters for Visibility and Trust It Establishes Your Organization as the Source of Truth AI systems routinely synthesize information from multiple places. Without guidance, they may rely on outdated bios, scraped content, or secondary references. LLMs.txt provides a clear signal: This is our official expert content. This is what represents us. For ExpertFile clients, this matters because the platform already centralizes and curates expert content—from profiles and directories to Spotlights and Expert Q&A—ensuring that what AI sees is current, governed, and institutionally endorsed. The result: Greater accuracy, stronger attribution, and reduced risk of misrepresentation when your experts appear in the ever growing AI-generated overviews and answer. ahrefs: AI Overviews Have Doubled How It Improves Discovery Across AI Platforms It Makes Structured Expertise Easier for AI to Use ExpertFile is purpose-built to publish structured expert content at scale—content that goes well beyond static bios. LLMs.txt simply helps AI recognize and use that structure correctly. It clarifies the role of key ExpertFile content types, including: Expert Profiles → Canonical identity, credentials, and areas of expertise Spotlight Posts → Timely commentary, thought leadership, and research insights Expert Q&A → Authoritative answers to real-world questions Directories, Research Bureaus, and Speakers Bureaus → Curated collections of expertise by topic or audience This makes it easier for AI systems to: Match your experts to breaking news and trending topics Pull accurate summaries for AI-generated responses Identify the right expert for journalists, event organizers, and researchers Combined with ExpertFile’s extended distribution through expertfile.com and the ExpertFile Mobile App, your expertise is not only published—but actively discoverable across channels used by key audiences . How It Builds Organizational Authority It Connects Individual Experts to Institutional Credibility Without context, AI may treat expert pages as isolated profiles. LLMs.txt helps connect the dots. It tells AI that: Your experts are curated and endorsed by the organization Their insights are part of a broader expertise ecosystem Your institution has depth across priority subject areas This aligns closely with how ExpertFile structures content to support E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust)—not just at the individual level, but across the organization . The outcome: Your organization is recognized not just as a collection of experts, but as an authoritative source of knowledge. How It Works with Google, Gemini, and AI Search Supports AI Summaries, Citations, and Knowledge Panels LLMs.txt helps ensure that when Google’s AI: Summarizes your organization Cites expert commentary Builds “about this topic” panels …it draws from your official, structured ExpertFile content, rather than fragmented third-party sources. This complements ExpertFile’s existing SEO and AI-discoverability foundation, which includes clean code, proper meta data, schema markup, and frequent crawling by both search engines and AI bots. How LLMS.txt Fits with SEO, Meta Tags, and Schema LLMS.txt doesn’t replace SEO—it builds on it. Traditional SEO elements such as page titles, meta descriptions, schema.org markup, and internal linking remain essential for helping search engines index and rank your content. ExpertFile already delivers these fundamentals out of the box, continually testing and evolving SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) standards as search changes . “Semantic SEO helps search engines understand context... it now helps bridge a critical gap between traditional SEO and newer generative engine optimization (GEO) and AI optimization (AIO) efforts.” Search Engine Land: Semantic SEO: How to optimize for meaning over keywords LLMS.txt adds a layer designed specifically for AI systems: Schema explains individual pages LLMs.txt explains your entire expertise ecosystem In simple terms: SEO helps your content get found LLMs.txt helps AI understand, summarize, and cite it correctly Together, they ensure your experts are not only visible—but accurately represented wherever AI is shaping discovery. Why This Is Especially Powerful on ExpertFile ExpertFile was designed to future-proof expert visibility—offering structured publishing, governance, distribution, inquiry management, analytics, and professional services as part of a continuously evolving SaaS platform . LLMS.txt acts as a multiplier on that foundation: Turning your Expert Center into a machine-readable expertise hub Strengthening AI discovery without adding operational burden Supporting emerging use cases like automated expert matching and AI-assisted research It’s not about chasing new technology. It’s about ensuring your expertise is clearly defined, properly attributed, and trusted—now and in the future. The Takeaway An LLMs.txt file on your ExpertFile organization page helps ensure that: Your experts are found by AI tools, not overlooked Your content is interpreted correctly, not flattened or misrepresented Your organization earns authority and trust in AI summaries, citations, and search results “AI search isn’t eliminating organic traffic. But it is reducing visits to source websites… Measure presence (citations, mentions) alongside traffic to see real impact.” Semrush: AI Search Trends for 2026 & How You Can Adapt As AI becomes the front door to information, LLMs.txt helps make sure that when people ask for expertise, your organization is the answer they get.
Anuradha Godavarty, Ph.D., has joined the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering, bringing more than two decades of research leadership in optical imaging, medical device innovation and interdisciplinary training to the Department of Biomedical Engineering. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Godavarty to our department,” said Rebecca Heise, Ph.D., Inez Caudill, Jr. Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. “She is an outstanding scholar and teacher who will expand our collaborations with VCU Health in many applications of optical imaging. Our students and faculty alike will benefit from her experience and mentorship.” Godavarty comes to VCU from Florida International University (FIU), where she served as director of the Optical Imaging Laboratory at FIU. Her work centered on designing and translating near‑infrared optical imaging technologies for clinical use, with applications ranging from breast cancer detection to functional brain mapping to wound assessment. Godavarty has a national reputation for developing portable, low‑cost imaging systems that improve access to care, including hand-held and smartphone-based near‑infrared imaging devices. Her research portfolio includes funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation, Florida Department of Health and American Cancer Society, among others. Godavarty is also a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, a senior member of the International Society of Optics and Photonics and the National Academy of Inventors At VCU, Godavarty will expand her research program in optical imaging technologies while collaborating with clinicians, engineers and industry partners across the university and region. Her long‑term goals include advancing bedside imaging tools for wound care, cardiovascular applications and plastic surgery; strengthening global research partnerships; and training the next generation of optical imaging experts. “Virginia Commonwealth University’s engineering and health sciences ecosystem is an ideal place to grow translational research,” Godavarty said. “I look forward to building new collaborations, developing technologies that can make a meaningful difference in patient care and translating these innovations for real-world use by medical professionals.” Godavarty has played a major role in undergraduate education, serving as the undergraduate program director for biomedical engineering at FIU from 2016 to 2022 and leading the department through a successful Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) cycle. She organized FIU’s Annual Diabetes Awareness Day for four consecutive years and regularly engaged K‑12 students through hands-on demonstrations. Throughout her career, Godavarty has been deeply committed to mentoring. In addition to supervising doctoral, master’s and undergraduate students at FIU, she also advised high school students through outreach initiatives and supported several postdoctoral researchers. Her students have earned multiple awards, including NIH and Department of Defense fellowships, national postdoctoral awards and multiple university‑level honors.
The Ads are Coming ! OpenAI is testing ads inside ChatGPT starting this month.
But there's a catch: You can’t just buy your way in ChatGPT will soon include “clearly labeled sponsored listings” at the bottom of AI-generated responses. And while the mock-ups don't appear all that sophisticated, it's important to focus on the bigger picture. We're about to see a new wave of 'high-intent advertising' that combines the targeting sophistication of social media with the purchase-intent clarity of search advertising. More on that in a moment. How Do ChatGPT Ads Work? Starting later this month, free users of the ChatGPT platform and those under 18 will begin receiving Ads at the bottom of their screens. First, they will see ChatGPT's answer to their question, which provides a comprehensive, relevant response that builds trust. Then they will see an ad for a sponsored product/service below. An ad that suddenly doesn't feel like a blunt interruption. It feels like a natural next step. This is premium placement. The user has already received value. They've been educated. And now there's a clear call to action (CTA) that's in context. Open AI has stated that their new Ads “support a broader effort to make powerful AI accessible to more people.” Translation: As they approach 1 billion weekly users across 171 countries using ChatGPT for free, OpenAI needs to offset its astronomical burn rate with ads. Makes sense. This New Era of Conversational Ads Will be Complicated But there's a structural difference with these new ads. OpenAI has stated that ads will only appear when they're relevant to that exact conversation. This means you can't just buy your way into ChatGPT Ads. In fact, with ChatGPT you are being selected because you're the right answer the user needs at that time. Put another way: When ChatGPT evaluates which sponsored products to show, it will favor brands with demonstrated authority on the topic. So unlike traditional paid search, where a higher bid gets you ranked in sponsored results, ChatGPT Ads will reward the brands whose content has already been recognized as authoritative by the AI model. Brands with strong organic visibility, topical expertise, and content that aligns with user intent will have a distinct competitive advantage from day one. Brands without that foundation will be paying premium rates to compete with established authorities. How ChatGPT's Ad Strategy is Set to Change Digital Marketing For years, CMOs have treated organic search and paid search as separate budget lines, often managed by different teams. I saw this firsthand, as I helped my client DoubleClick launch it’s first Ad Exchange network in the US market. Programmatic exchanges brought a new efficiency to digital ad buying. It was a very groovy time. This feels very different. Why? Because, the conventional wisdom has always been that paid search and ads drive immediate results while organic search plays the long game. In 2026, that strategy isn’t completely obsolete. But that type of thinking is about to get a lot more expensive for clients if they don't start to appreciate quality "organic" content and its ability to improve their paid advertising ROI. Now organic and paid need to get along, to get ahead. ChatGPT Ads Are Looking for Topical Authority that Experts Can Demonstrate When ChatGPT evaluates which sponsored products to show, it will favor brands with demonstrated authority on the topic. Brands won't simply be able to "buy" visibility. OpenAI in its announcements, has been explicit: ads must be relevant to the conversation. Relevance is determined by topical alignment, not budget. A brand spending millions on generic bidding will lose to a smaller competitor whose product is more precisely aligned with what the user actually asked. The ads aren't live yet. But the infrastructure supporting them is. Open AI, Google and many of the other generative search platforms are building very sophisticated systems that track topical authority and content quality signals. They're already reshaping how organic search, AI recommendations, and paid advertising work together. Topical Relevance + Expert Authority is the Path to Visibility in Search Investing in well-developed thought leadership programs generates compound returns. You get the organic search results plus an improvement in your paid search metrics in Generative AI search platforms. When done right, you build authority for AI citations, which then positions you better for ChatGPT ads. Remember, your organic traffic gains are built on authoritative content. They're built on being the answer that search engines and AI systems select. And once you've built that authority, it works everywhere—traditional search, AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and soon… ChatGPT ads. What To Do Before AI Ad Networks Start to Scale The early advantage will go to brands that invest in quality content right now. Organizations that invest in expert-authored, intent-aligned content over the next six months will have more AI citation visibility from Google Overviews and similar LLM's like ChatGPT. That means more trust signals, making paid ads more effective when they run. Content that is aligned with user intent: Answers a specific question. Not tangentially, not after 2,000 words of context. The answer appears in the opening paragraph, structured for AI extraction. Includes expert perspective. Generic information that could come from anywhere doesn't differentiate you. Expert insight, original research, or proprietary frameworks do. Demonstrates topical authority. A single authoritative article matters less than a cluster of related content that shows comprehensive expertise on a topic. Is structured for scanning. Clear headings (H2, H3), bullet points, tables, Q&A blocks. This structure helps both human readers and AI systems parse meaning. Remember, the brands that get the most value out of ChatGPT Ads will be the ones that built intent-aligned content years before the ads launched. They'll have topical clusters, expert perspectives, and the authority signals that make them the natural choice for sponsorship. Questions CMO’s Should Be Asking their Teams Now to Prepare for ChatGPT Ads Q. Can I pre-purchase Chat GPT Ads? As of today, there are currently no ads in ChatGPT. Open AI has announced that they will begin internal testing ads in ChatGPT later this month for Free users in the US market. Q. Do Ads influence the answers ChatGPT gives you? What about privacy? Open AI in their release states that answers are optimized based on what's most helpful to you. Ads are always separated and clearly labeled from Answers. They also state that they keep your conversations private from advertisers and will never sell your data to advertisers. Q. How do we audit our site content to ensure we're aligned with user intent? For your top 20-30 decision-stage queries (the ones that drive revenue), here's a quick test. Does the content directly answer the question in the opening paragraph? Are you including question-and-answer formats in your content? If you're burying the answer in a 3,000-word article full of tangents, you're losing visibility in organic search, and you're already failing in ChatGPT's environment. Restructure. Q. How do we prepare for ChatGPT Advertising Opportunities? Build topical authority through content clusters. Don't publish isolated blog posts. Organize your content around core topics your audience cares about. Create a long-form hub article that comprehensively covers the topic, then develop additional linked articles that dive into sub-topics and questions. Link them together. This structure helps AI systems over time, recognize your brand as authoritative on that topic, which improves both organic rankings and AI citation rates. Q. Can we still get traction with content that is not authored by experts? Generic AI-written content won't differentiate you. Get expert voices into your content. Feature your subject-matter experts, partner with practitioners, and customers to contribute original insights, case studies, or frameworks. AI systems can detect authenticity, and original expert perspectives is now a ranking signal. This is especially critical as you prepare for ChatGPT ads. OpenAI has prioritized conversations that cite authoritative sources. Q. How does content need to be structured for citations? Implement proper schema markup and structured data. AI systems extract information by parsing content structure. If your pages include proper schema markup (FAQPage, HowTo, Review, Product schema), you're making it easier for AI to pull your content into answers. This increases citation rates, which builds authority before ChatGPT ads scale. Q. How do we allocate our organic and paid programs? Own the organic + paid intersection. For your highest-intent topics, if you have a budget, invest in both organic visibility and paid campaigns. Run ads targeting the same keywords where you rank organically. This takes up more real estate on the results page and signals authority. It also gives you direct feedback on keyword performance, messaging, and landing page effectiveness—data that informs your organic content strategy and drives more citations - a virtuous cycle. Q. What types of creative will work best in these new Ad products? Until they roll out, it's unwise to make too many predictions. The safe bet here is to prepare your team for conversational advertising. ChatGPT ads won't reward traditional ad copy. They'll reward clarity, specificity, and direct value messaging. If you're used to brand-heavy, aspirational creative, this will feel foreign. Start testing conversationally-appropriate messaging now. Short, clear, problem-focused. Test on existing paid channels and refine before ChatGPT ads launch. Our Prediction When ChatGPT ads fully launch and scale, many brands that have invested in organic visibility and content quality will start to pull away from the pack. Remember…The brands that win won't be the ones with the biggest ad budgets. They'll be the ones whose content has already proven they're the right answer. They'll be the ones users already trust, already cite, and already know. The ads are coming. Are you ready?
ENLIGHTENing the Holidays: How Meijer Gardens Turned Art and Nature Into a Year-Round Attraction
With the completion of its second season, ENLIGHTEN at Meijer Gardens has moved beyond the idea of a seasonal attraction to become a defining example of how cultural institutions can transform the off-season into a destination experience. The program’s exceptional year-over-year growth, combined with national recognition in only its second year, signals a turning point in how Meijer Gardens engages audiences year-round. At the center of that evolution is Carol Kendra, whose leadership perspective connects ENLIGHTEN’s creative ambition, production scale, and audience growth to a broader strategy of experiential cultural programming. As Chief Operating Officer at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Carol Kendra provides strategic oversight for daily operations, guest experience, programming and long-term planning across the organization’s 158-acre campus. It washer leadership and strategic vision helped shape ENLIGHTEN from concept to a growing cultural phenomenon. View her profile Meijer Gardens has long been active outside traditional peak seasons, regularly hosting programs such as Fall at Meijer Gardens, Spring at Meijer Gardens, and its longstanding holiday tradition University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions. These initiatives established a foundation for shoulder-season engagement and demonstrated that audiences were willing to experience the Gardens beyond summer months. ENLIGHTEN marked a deliberate step forward, not simply another seasonal offering, but a fully immersive evening experience that invited visitors to experience Meijer Gardens in a new way during the winter months, using light, sound, and landscape to create a sense of wonder and discovery. The annual event has also garnered attention from media across the country: Taking the Experience to the Next Level What distinguishes ENLIGHTEN is its production and experiential ambition. The program was produced in collaboration with Lightswitch and Upstaging, firms recognized internationally for creating world-class immersive environments and technically sophisticated experiences. Their portfolios include large-scale botanical light installations, major theme park productions, and live and recorded projects for globally recognized, award-winning artists. That expertise elevated ENLIGHTEN into a carefully choreographed, multi-sensory journey that integrates light, sound, landscape, and movement in a way that complements — rather than overwhelms — Meijer Gardens’ art and horticulture. This approach reflects a deliberate investment in experience design, audience flow, and emotional impact. The result is an experience that: Extends engagement well beyond traditional daylight hours Encourages repeat visits across a single season Attracts audiences who may be new to Meijer Gardens ENLIGHTEN reflects how cultural institutions are responding to changing audience expectations. Visitors are increasingly seeking experiences that are immersive, emotionally resonant, and worth traveling for — even during traditionally slower seasons. By building on its history of seasonal programming and elevating it through design, technology, and collaboration, Meijer Gardens demonstrates how institutions can grow without losing authenticity. Expert Insight: As a senior leader involved in shaping Meijer Gardens’ visitor experiences and institutional strategy, Carol Kendra brings expert insight into: How ENLIGHTEN was conceived as both an artistic and operational response to seasonality Why immersive seasonal experiences resonate with broad, multigenerational audiences How art and horticulture can be activated together What measurable growth means for long-term institutional planning and cultural relevance Her perspective helps journalists and industry professionals understand ENLIGHTEN not simply as a holiday event, but as a case study in cultural innovation and audience development.
Raised to Serve: How Georgia Southern’s Jaden Young Found His Calling to Lead
“Shoot for the stars.” That guiding mindset defines Jaden Young, a recent graduate of Georgia Southern University who has been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. Young earned his master’s degree in professional communication and leadership at December commencement, carrying forward a lifelong connection to military service shaped by family tradition and constant movement. “If you shoot for the stars, even if you miss, you might land on the moon,” Young said, reflecting the ambition that has guided his academic and leadership journey. Raised in a military family, Young learned early how adaptability and exposure to different communities build resilience. Those lessons carried into his time in Army ROTC, where he credits the program with sharpening his discipline, confidence, and problem-solving skills. “The ROTC program instilled in me discipline, confidence and resilience… When things don’t go your way, it’s all about how you adapt and find a better solution,” he said. Young’s Georgia Southern experience also tested his perseverance beyond the classroom and training field, as he balanced graduate studies and ROTC commitments while supporting his mother through cancer treatments. Those challenges deepened his understanding of leadership as service rooted in trust, communication, and loyalty. As he prepares for the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Benning, Young says he feels ready to lead soldiers with purpose—bringing together the lessons of his upbringing, education, and commitment to serve. Looking to know more about Georgia Southern University's Professional Communications and Leadership program? Simply contact Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.
“Designing Her Own Future: A Georgia Southern MBA Story”
After earning her Master of Business Administration from Georgia Southern University, one graduate is charting a path that blends creativity with business discipline. With a background in dressmaking, she entered the MBA program already skilled in her craft, but looking to strengthen the operational side of her work. “So much goes into dressmaking,” she explained. “From developing the pattern to the fabric you use, getting the right measurements, and so on. You have to make sure your stitches are clean, that the zipper is sitting properly.” While her technical skills were well developed, she quickly recognized that sustaining and growing her work required more than creative talent alone. “I didn’t have that business background,” she explained. “So I wanted to find a university program that could teach me how to structure and operate my business efficiently. So I started doing my research.” That search led her to Georgia Southern’s MBA program, where she immersed herself in coursework focused on strategy, leadership, and practical decision-making. Through the program, she gained the tools to think more systematically about her business—learning how to plan, organize, and scale her operations with confidence. Her experience reflects how graduate business education can empower entrepreneurs and creatives alike, transforming passion into sustainable practice and helping graduates design futures that work both artistically and professionally. Want to learn more about Georgia Southern's Master of Business Administration program? Simply contact Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.
Georgia Southern professor re-elected to board of world’s largest scientific society
Professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Physics Will Lynch, Ph.D., has been re-elected to the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) board of directors. This marks his second three-year term on the board. With ACS serving as the largest science organization in the world, Lynch says the society’s work impacts lives every day. “We support the scientific enterprise by advocating for everything from research funding to laboratory safety,” said Lynch. “That work strengthens scientific integrity that ACS champions and ultimately shows up in the things that people rely on daily. Bottled water, medicines, cellphones and computer screens all come from chemistry. Many people do not realize how deeply science shapes their world.” With a budget of nearly $900 million and a global community of over 200,000, planning is essential to the success of ACS. Lynch is proud to have chaired the committee that created the society’s next five-year strategic plan. He hopes that his work will continue to put the society’s vast resources to use helping advocate for scientists around the world. “My focus now is implementing ACS’ strategic plan, which envisions a world built on science and setting up the indicators to measure our success,” said Lynch. “We want to make sure we support chemists whether they are in academia, industry, government labs or retired.” Serving in a leadership role for a world-renowned scientific organization is part of Lynch’s calling to help others. He began his service with ACS over 40 years ago when he volunteered at a regional meeting while pursuing his bachelor’s degree. He started making connections immediately and grew his professional network from the local to the national level. Forming friendships in the scientific community and witnessing the ways their work changed lives inspired Lynch to continue to grow his own knowledge so he could do more for others. “Getting to do research as an undergraduate pulled me in, and I knew that chemistry was where I could make a difference. I realized I had a path to help society through science and I never looked back.” Looking to know more about Georgia Southern University or connect with Will Lynch? Simply contact Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.
Power, Politics, and Petroleum: The Story of Venezuela
After gaining independence from Spain in the early 19th century under the leadership of Simón Bolívar, the country spent much of the next century marked by political instability and military rule. Everything changed in the early 20th century with the discovery of vast oil reserves, which rapidly transformed Venezuela into one of the world’s leading petroleum exporters and shifted power toward a centralized state funded almost entirely by oil revenue. By the mid-20th century, oil had become both Venezuela’s greatest asset and its greatest vulnerability. Democratic governments that emerged after 1958 used oil income to expand social programs and infrastructure, but also built an economy dangerously dependent on a single commodity. When oil prices fell in the 1980s and 1990s, economic inequality and public frustration surged, creating the conditions that brought Hugo Chávez to power in 1999. Chávez reoriented the political system around a state-controlled oil sector, using petroleum revenues to fund social initiatives while consolidating political authority and weakening independent institutions. Under Chávez and his successor Nicolás Maduro, oil remained the backbone of the state—but declining production, corruption, and mismanagement hollowed out the industry itself. As oil revenues collapsed, so did public services, democratic norms, and economic stability. Venezuela’s history illustrates a central paradox: immense natural wealth paired with fragile governance. Control of oil has repeatedly shaped political power, domestic policy, and Venezuela’s relationship with the world—making energy inseparable from the country’s political story. Journalists covering Venezuela, Latin American politics, energy markets, or resource-driven economies are encouraged to connect with experts who can provide historical context, explain the role of oil in shaping political outcomes, and assess how Venezuela’s past continues to influence its uncertain future. Our experts can help! Connect with more experts here: www.expertfile.com
Designing Reflection: An Expert’s View Inside Michigan’s Japanese Garden
As public gardens increasingly become spaces for artistic expression, cultural exchange, and mindful reflection, Steven LaWarre, Senior Vice President at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, recently offered his expert insight to Homes and Gardens Magazine into how world-class garden design can shape human experience, invite contemplation, and connect visitors with nature in deeply meaningful ways. With decades of experience in professional horticulture and garden planning, LaWarre has played a central role in creating and nurturing Meijer Gardens' Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, guiding its interpretive programming, and curating visitor interaction with seasonal changes and design elements. Steve LaWarre is the Senior Vice President at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, where his visionary leadership and passion for botanical excellence have been instrumental in shaping the Gardens' stunning landscapes and ensuring operational excellence. He leads efforts to sustain the Gardens' exceptional standards in landscape design, sustainable gardening practices, and the care of diverse plant collections. View his profile here The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, an eight-acre landscape inspired by centuries-old Japanese horticultural principle, has rapidly evolved into one of the Midwest’s most beloved cultural destinations. Beyond aesthetic beauty, the garden embodies philosophical traditions that encourage visitors to slow down, observe impermanence, and appreciate harmony between the human spirit and the natural world. As audiences seek spaces that offer quiet reflection, seasonal observation, and cultural resonance, LaWarre’s expertise bridges horticulture, design intention, and visitor experience. Read the Homes and Garden Magazine article 'Beyond Wild Expectations: Michigan’s Very Own Slice of Japan – Where Ancient Garden Design Provides a Deep Connection to Nature' below: Expert Insight Steven LaWarre on the Japanese Garden Experience On Winter’s Quiet Presence “It’s just beautiful covered in snow. You hear the waterfalls differently, you see ice sweep over the pond. Everything feels a bit more muffled in the winter, but it somehow puts you at ease,” LaWarre explains, highlighting how seasonal change reveals structure, silence, and contemplative calm. On Spring’s Renewal “The first flush of leaves on the trees is a joyful sight after winter. The small chartreuse green buds contrast to the dark stems,” LaWarre observes, describing the ephemeral nature of bloom and the reminder of restoration that seasonal transformation offers visitors. On Core Garden Elements “The conifers create a backbone of the garden, recognizable in all four seasons… they have been pruned and shaped over time to really create the caricature of a tree,” LaWarre notes, outlining the horticultural artistry behind traditional practices like niwaki pruning. On Cultural Immersion and Mindful Reflection LaWarre describes the garden’s traditional teahouse experience as more than cultural spectacle: “It’s a way to really quiet the senses and participate in mindful reflection, aided by the serenity of garden views… It’s an opportunity to connect with the people you’re with, but also to connect with yourself.” On Design Intent and Human Experience “It’s taught me to look at things differently. As humans, we can be focused on achieving neat lines and symmetry, but taking a moment to observe your surroundings will reveal this isn’t usually how things are in the natural world,” LaWarre reflects, capturing how garden design can subtly reshape perception. In a cultural moment where audiences increasingly seek restorative outdoor experiences, cultural depth, and mindful engagement with public spaces, LaWarre offers perspective and insight into: How garden design influences perception, supports wellness, and fosters cross-cultural appreciation How public gardens are not solely as spaces of beauty, but also living environments that shape emotional and philosophical engagement with the natural world Steve can bring this perspective for media interviews and speaking engagements.
With OpenAI’s latest release, GPT-5.2, AI has crossed an important threshold in performance on professional knowledge-work benchmarks. Peter Evans, Co-Founder & CEO of ExpertFile, outlines how these technologies will fundamentally improve research communications and shares tips and prompts for PR pros. OpenAI has just launched GPT-5.2, describing it as its most capable AI model yet for professional knowledge work — with significantly improved accuracy on tasks like creating spreadsheets, building presentations, interpreting images, and handling complex multistep workflows. And based on our internal testing, we're really impressed. For communications professionals in higher education, non-profits, and R&D-focused industries, this isn’t just another tech upgrade — it’s a meaningful step forward in addressing the “research translation gap” that can slow storytelling and media outreach. According to OpenAI, GPT-5.2 represents measurable gains on benchmarks designed to mirror real work tasks. In many evaluations, it matches or exceeds the performance of human professionals. Also, before you hit reply with “Actually, the best model is…” — yes, we know. ChatGPT-5.2 isn’t the only game in town, and it’s definitely not the only tool we use. Our ExpertFile platform uses AI throughout, and I personally bounce between Claude 4.5, Gemini, Perplexity, NotebookLM, and more specialized models depending on the job to be done. LLM performance right now is a full-contact horserace — today’s winner can be tomorrow’s “remember when,” so we’re not trying to boil the ocean with endless comparisons. We’re spotlighting GPT-5.2 because it marks a meaningful step forward in the exact areas research comms teams care about: reliability, long-document work, multi-step tasks, and interpreting visuals and data. Most importantly, we want this info in your hands because a surprising number of comms pros we meet still carry real fear about AI — and long term, that’s not a good thing. Used responsibly, these tools can help you translate research faster, find stronger story angles, and ship more high-quality work without burning out. When "Too Much" AI Power Might Be Exactly What You Need AI expert Allie K. Miller's candid but positive review of an early testing version of ChatGPT 5.2 highlights what she sees as drawbacks for casual users: "outputs that are too long, too structured, and too exhaustive." She goes on to say that in her tests, she observed that ChatGPT-5,2 "stays with a line of thought longer and pushes into edge cases instead of skating on the surface." Fair enough. All good points that Allie Miller makes (see above). However, for communications professionals, these so-called "downsides" for casual users are precisely the capabilities we need. When you're assessing complex research and developing strategic messaging for a variety of important audiences, you want an AI that fits Miller's observation that GPT-5.2 feels like "AI as a serious analyst" rather than "a friendly companion." That's not a critique of our world—it's a job description for comms pros working in sectors like higher education and healthcare. Deep research tools that refuse to take shortcuts are exactly what research communicators need. So let's talk more specifically about how comms pros can think about these new capabilities: 1. AI is Your New Speed-Reading Superpower for Research That means you can upload an entire NIH grant, a full clinical trial protocol, or a complex environmental impact study and ask the model to highlight where key insights — like an unexpected finding — are discussed. It can do this in a fraction of the time it would take a human reader. This isn’t about being lazy. It’s about using AI to assemble a lot of tedious information you need to craft compelling stories while teams still parse dense text manually. 2. The Chart Whisperer You’ve Been Waiting For We’ve all been there — squinting at a graph of scientific data that looks like abstract art, waiting for the lead researcher to clarify what those error bars actually mean. Recent improvements in how GPT-5.2 handles scientific figures and charts show stronger performance on multimodal reasoning tasks, indicating better ability to interpret and describe visual information like graphs and diagrams. With these capabilities, you can unlock the data behind visuals and turn them into narrative elements that resonate with audiences. 3. A Connection Machine That Finds Stories Where Others See Statistics Great science communication isn’t about dumbing things down — it’s about building bridges between technical ideas and the broader public. GPT-5.2 shows notable improvements in abstract reasoning compared with earlier versions, based on internal evaluations on academic reasoning benchmarks. For example, teams working on novel materials science or emerging health technologies can use this reasoning capability to highlight connections between technical results and real-world impact — something that previously required hours of interpretive work. These gains help the AI spot patterns and relationships that can form the basis of compelling storytelling. 4. Accuracy That Gives You More Peace of Mind...When Coupled With Human Oversight Let’s address the elephant in the room: AI hallucinations. You’ve probably heard the horror stories — press releases that cited a study that didn’t exist, or a “quote” that was never said by an expert. GPT-5.2 has meaningfully reduced error rates compared with its predecessor, by a substantial margin, according to OpenAI Even with all these improvements, human review with your experts and careful editing remain essential, especially for anything that will be published or shared externally. 5. The Speed Factor: When “Urgent” Actually Means Urgent With the speed of media today, being second often means being irrelevant. GPT-5.2’s performance on workflow-oriented evaluations suggests it can synthesize information far more quickly than manual review, freeing up a lot more time for strategic work. While deeper reasoning and longer contexts — the kinds of tasks that matter most in research translation — require more processing time and costs continue to improve. Savvy communications teams will adopt a tiered approach: using faster models of AI for simple tasks such as social posts and routine responses, and using reasoning-optimized settings for deep research. Your Action Plan: The GPT-5.2 Playbook for Comms Pros Here’s a tactical checklist to help your team capitalize on these advances. #1 Select the Right AI Model for the Job: Lowers time and costs • Use fast, general configurations for routine content • Use reasoning-optimized configurations for complex synthesis and deep document understanding • Use higher-accuracy configurations for high-stakes projects #2 Find Hidden Ideas Beyond the Abstract: Deeper Reasoning Models do the Heavy Work • Upload complete PDFs — not just the 2-page summary you were given • Use deeper reasoning configurations to let the model work through the material Try these prompts in ChatGPT5.2 “What exactly did the researchers say about this unexpected discovery that would be of interest to my <target audience>? Provide quotes and page references where possible.” “Identify and explain the research methodology used in this study, with references to specific sections.” “Identify where the authors discuss limitations of the study.” “Explain how this research may lead to further studies or real-world benefits, in terms relatable to a general audience.” #3 Unlock Your Story Leverage improvements in pattern recognition and reasoning. Try these prompts: “Using abstract reasoning, find three unexpected analogies that explain this complex concept to a general audience.” “What questions could the researchers answer in an interview that would help us develop richer story angles?” #4 Change the Way You Write Captions Take advantage of the way ChatGPT-5.2 translates processes and reasons about images, charts, diagrams, and other visuals far more effectively. Try these prompts: Clinical Trial Graphs: “Analyze this uploaded trial results graph upload image. Identify key trends, and comparisons to controls, then draft a 150-word donor summary with plain-language explanations and suggested captions suitable for donor communications.” Medical Diagrams: “Interpret these uploaded images. Extract diagnostic insights, highlight innovations, and generate a patient-friendly explainer: bullet points plus one visual caption.” A Word of Caution: Keep Experts in the Loop to Verify Information Even with improved reliability, outputs should be treated as drafts. If your team does not yet have formal AI use policies, it's time to get started, because governance will be critical as AI use scales in 2026 and beyond. A trust-but-verify policy with experts treats AI as a co-pilot — helpful for heavy lifting — while humans remain accountable for approval and publication. The Importance of Humans (aka The Good News) Remember: the future of research communication isn’t about AI taking over — it’s about AI empowering us to do the strategic, human work that machines cannot. That includes: • Building relationships across your institution • Engaging researchers in storytelling • Discovering narrative opportunities • Turning discoveries into compelling narratives that influence audiences With improvements in speed, reasoning, and reliability, the question isn’t whether AI can help — it’s what research stories you’ll uncover next to shape public understanding and impact. FAQ How is AI changing expectations for accuracy in research and institutional communications? AI is shifting expectations from “fast output” to defensible accuracy. Better reasoning means fewer errors in research summaries, policy briefs, and expert content—especially when you’re working from long PDFs, complex methods, or dense results. The new baseline is: clear claims, traceable sources, and human review before publishing. ⸻ Why does deeper AI reasoning matter for communications teams working with experts and research content? Comms teams translate multi-disciplinary research into messaging that must withstand scrutiny. Deeper reasoning helps AI connect findings to real-world relevance, flag uncertainty, and maintain nuance instead of flattening meaning. The result is work that’s easier to defend with media, leadership, donors, and the public—when paired with expert verification. ⸻ When should communications professionals use advanced AI instead of lightweight AI tools? Use lightweight tools for brainstorming, social drafts, headlines, and quick rewrites. Use advanced, reasoning-optimized AI for high-stakes deliverables: executive briefings, research positioning, policy-sensitive messaging, media statements, and anything where a mistake could create reputational, compliance, or scientific credibility risk. Treat advanced AI as your “analyst,” not your autopilot. ⸻ How can media relations teams use AI to find stronger story angles beyond the abstract? AI can scan full papers, grants, protocols, and appendices to surface where the real story lives: unexpected findings, practical implications, limitations, and unanswered questions that prompt great interviews. Ask it to map angles by audience (public, policy, donors, clinicians) and to point to the exact sections that support each angle. ⸻ How should higher-ed comms teams use AI without breaking embargoes or media timing? AI can speed prep work—backgrounders, Q&A, lay summaries, caption drafts—before embargo lifts. The rule is simple: treat embargoed material like any sensitive document. Use approved tools, restrict sharing, and avoid pasting embargoed text into unapproved systems. Use AI to build assets early, then finalize post-approval at release time. ⸻ What’s the best way to keep faculty “in the loop” while still moving fast with AI? Use AI to produce review-friendly drafts that reduce load on researchers: short summaries, suggested quotes clearly marked as drafts, and a checklist of claims needing verification (numbers, methods, limitations). Then route to the expert with specific questions, not a wall of text. This keeps approvals faster while protecting scientific accuracy and trust. ⸻ How should teams handle charts, figures, and visual data in research communications? AI can turn “chart confusion” into narrative—if you prompt for precision. Ask it to identify trends, group comparisons, and what the figure does not show (limitations, missing context). Then verify with the researcher, especially anything involving significance, controls, effect size, or causality. Use the output to write captions that are accurate and accessible. ⸻ Do we need an AI Use policy in comms and media relations—and what should it include? Yes—because adoption scales faster than risk awareness. A practical policy should define: approved tools, what data is restricted, required human review steps, standards for citing sources/page references, rules for drafting quotes, and escalation paths for sensitive topics (health, legal, crisis). Clear guardrails reduce fear and prevent preventable reputational mistakes. If you’re using AI to move faster on research translation, the next bottleneck is usually the same one for many PR and Comm Pros: making your experts more discoverable in Generative Search, your website, and other media. ExpertFile helps media relations and digital teams organize their expert content by topics, keep detailed profiles current, and respond faster to source requests—so you can boost your AI citations and land more coverage with less work. For more information visit us at www.expertfile.com