Reddit and Quora are shaping brand perceptions through Google AI Overviews, often to the detriment of companies. When users search for opinions on a brand, AI tends to pull from high-authority sites like these forums, elevating minority views into what seems like consensus. A three-year-old negative comment can gain new life, misrepresenting a brand’s current status. The AI doesn't just present opinions; it can create a misleading narrative that users treat as fact, often ignoring the original context or source credibility. To combat this issue, brands need to take proactive steps. Monitoring forums for emerging threads is crucial since once a discussion gains traction, it’s already indexed by AI. Creating high-quality, structured content that answers common questions can provide better sources for AI to cite. Brands should also engage directly on these platforms, addressing criticisms openly rather than hoping they fade away. Tracking what AI says about your brand is essential; it’s not enough to just know your search rankings. This shift highlights a broader trend in online reputation management. Brands can no longer rely solely on traditional SEO strategies. Instead, they must actively shape conversations around their products. By addressing their weaknesses transparently and providing clear, authoritative responses, they can influence how AI summarizes their reputation. If brands fail to control the narrative, they risk letting outdated or negative opinions define them in the eyes of potential customers.