Interviewing AI About The Future of PR: A Conversation with Rupert

Guests Rupert — AI persona created by Joe Carreon Student Interviewers: Toma Battino, Joe Carreon Host: Fred Cook, Director, USC Center for Public Relations Discussion Breakdown Introducing Rupert — 0:00 How AI Is Impacting PR — 0:45 Will AI Replace Entry-Level Jobs? — 1:40 Who’s Adopting AI Faster — Young or Experienced Pros? — 3:06 Passion Projects & Standing Out in PR — 4:20 GEO (Generative Engineered Optimization) Explained — 5:10 Authenticity, AI, and the Fight Against Polarization — 6:39 AI Search vs. Google Search — 7:30 What Tools PR Students Should Know — 7:55 Crisis Communications in an AI World — 9:15 Ethics, Consent & Using Likeness in AI Content — 13:30 Should You Disclose When You Use AI? — 14:55 Common Blind Spots in AI Usage — 15:40 Accuracy & Where AI Gets Its Information — 16:31 How PR Shapes the Information AI Pulls From — 17:46 Managing Brand Reputation in the Age of AI — 17:58 How AI Perceives USC Annenberg — 18:50 What Professors Should Teach About AI — 19:13 What Rupert Looks For in New PR Hires — 20:20 Where AI Is Going in the Next 2–3 Years — 21:40 Should We Be Scared or Excited? — 22:07 Closing & Fight On — 22:53 Key Insights 1. AI Won’t Replace PR — It Will Redefine It Rupert positions AI as a shift, not a takeover. Routine tasks will be automated, but strategy, creativity, and relationships remain uniquely human. Entry-level roles will evolve, not disappear. 2. PR Professionals Must Build “AI Visibility” With people turning to AI for search, GEO becomes essential. Communicators will need to create content that AI can understand, trust, and surface — marking a new era of “authentic earned media.” 3. AI Can Support, Not Substitute, Crisis Communications Rupert identifies monitoring, rapid analysis, and early messaging as AI’s strengths in crises — but empathy, accountability, and credibility must come from humans. 4. Ethical Use of Likeness & Transparency Matter Students challenge Rupert about consent, deepfakes, and whether creators should disclose AI involvement. Rupert stresses transparent use (for now) and careful respect for identity and likeness. 5. AI Literacy Is Now a Resume Essential From media monitoring to analytics to content drafting, students entering PR need demonstrable experience with: AI writing tools Social analytics software Media monitoring platforms Data interpretation & ethical judgment 6. Future AI Will Be Predictive, Personalized, and Creative Rupert envisions AI that: Adapts messaging in real time Predicts PR issues before they surface Assists with brainstorming and strategic planning Engages audiences in one-to-one communication at scale Production Credits A production of the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations at the University of Southern California. Host: Fred Cook Executive Producer: Ron Antonette Season 7 Producers: Joe Carreon and Anvi Mahajan Production: Camille Culbertson, Jack Gisler, Toma Battino Editorial: Joey Cha, Ivan Feng, Natalie Lopez, Grace An Social Content: Angelina Tran, Hailey Evans, Arushi Purkayastha, Chris Apy Growth: Van Luu, Shaan Dhaliwal Links Follow the USC Center for PR (@usccenterforpr) on Instagram (  / usccenterforpr  ) and LinkedIn (  / usccenterforpr  ) .  Follow Fred Cook on LinkedIn (  / fredhcook  ) .  Find all our reports at annenberg.usc.edu/cpr. (https://annenberg.usc.edu/research/ce...) Download the 2026 Relevance Report at annenberg.usc.edu/relevance (https://annenberg.usc.edu/relevance)