Fred Marks has been featured in 11 media outlets including the Chicago Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, Orlando Sentinel, Gainesville Sun, St. Augustine Record, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, WTSP, The Ledger, and Ackerman Cancer Center TV. He provides expert AI commentary on industry developments from the Wall Street Journal and other publications.

In the News

AI commentary from Jacksonville's perspective, plus 20 years of media coverage.

AI Commentary

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Why the Old Rules of Google Search Are Being Rewritten by AI

AI Overviews now appear in 30–45% of informational searches, and publishers are reporting organic traffic drops of 30–60%. The old SEO playbook — keywords, backlinks, rankings — is being replaced by what the industry calls GEO: Generative Engine Optimization.

"This is exactly what I've been telling Jacksonville business owners — the game has shifted. If your business isn't showing up in AI answers, you're invisible to the next generation of search. That's why we built AEO into every site we ship at VibeBuilt WebCo."— Fred Marks

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

China's Open-Source AI Push: DeepSeek V4 and the Race to Reshape the Industry

DeepSeek's V4 — a trillion-parameter model — launched at $0.32 per million tokens vs. GPT-5.2's $4.81. Chinese open-source models now capture roughly 30% of the working AI market, with Anthropic accusing DeepSeek of "industrial-scale distillation attacks" using 24,000 fraudulent accounts.

"The cost gap is staggering. Chinese open-source models are 15x cheaper and closing the quality gap fast. For my clients, this means more options and lower costs — but it also means the businesses that don't adopt AI now will be left behind by ones that do."— Fred Marks

Fred in the Media

11 media appearances across major publications — from the Chicago Tribune to Jacksonville's own local outlets. Long before AI, Fred was building things that got people's attention.

2025–2026

Ackerman Cancer Center TV Commercial

Fred appears in this television commercial for Ackerman Cancer Center, currently airing on Jacksonville TV.

April 2009

SCORE Volunteer Quoted in Sarasota Herald-Tribune

While living in Sarasota, FL, Fred volunteered with SCORE — the nation's largest network of volunteer expert business mentors. He was quoted giving advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

"Bootstrap your business launch. Start the business from your home and use any and all cash your business brings in to help fund your launch into bigger and better things."

— Fred Marks, SCORE Counselor
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Sarasota Herald-Tribune

NEWS·April 2009
What You Need to Start Your Own Business
Staff Writer | Sarasota Herald-Tribune

"I am passionate about starting my own pet services business," Deborah posted on SCORE's "Ask an Expert" blog.

I asked SCORE Manasota's volunteer business counselors what advice and questions they have for Deborah.

Fred Marks adds, "Bootstrap your business launch." He is a counselor in Sarasota. "Start the business from your home and use any and all cash your business brings in to help fund your launch into bigger and better things."

January 2009

TebowDontGo Campaign Featured on WTSP

After Tim Tebow's historic 2008 season, Fred created TebowDontGo.com — a fan campaign urging the Heisman Trophy winner to stay at Florida for his senior year.

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WTSP 10 Tampa Bay

SPORTS·January 2009
Gator Fan Starts Web Site to Convince Tebow to Stay in School
WTSP Staff

A passionate Florida Gators fan has launched a website called TebowDontGo.com with the goal of convincing star quarterback Tim Tebow to remain at the University of Florida for his senior season.

Fred Marks, who created the site, hopes it will rally Gator Nation to show their support for Tebow and encourage him to stay in Gainesville rather than enter the 2009 NFL Draft.

December 2008

Featured in the St. Augustine Record

Fred Marks mentioned in a feature published by the St. Augustine Record, a Northeast Florida newspaper.

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Fred Marks mentioned in a feature published by the St. Augustine Record, a Northeast Florida newspaper.

June 2007

BlackOutBonds Campaign in the Chicago Tribune

Fred's BlackOutBonds.com campaign — protesting Barry Bonds' pursuit of Hank Aaron's home run record — was featured in the Chicago Tribune, one of the nation's largest newspapers.

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Chicago Tribune

SPORTS·June 2007
Not Barry Happy About the Chase
McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Fred Marks might not be a typical fan, but he looks and sounds like most baseball fans. What makes Marks a little different is that he couldn't sit still, couldn't remain silent.

That's why he started a Web site called blackoutbonds.com.

Fred Marks, a commercial real-estate salesman in Tampa: "I had the life-size poster of Bonds in my room, and my dad and me would go to Giants games in San Francisco, and in Atlanta. I was a lifelong fan."

June 2007

BlackOutBonds Featured in the Tampa Bay Times

The Tampa Bay Times ran a full Q&A interview with Fred about his BlackOutBonds campaign and his journey from lifelong Bonds fan to leading the protest movement.

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Tampa Bay Times

SPORTS·June 2007
Ex-Bonds Fan Speaks Out
BRIAN LANDMAN | Tampa Bay Times

Fred Marks, a University of Florida alumnus and Tampa resident, developed his passion for sports, baseball in particular, while growing up in Jacksonville. He left his heart in San Francisco. "Barry Bonds was my idol," said Marks, 25.

"My father's my hero. What I've learned is it's not about 755, it's about who somebody is. As a kid, I was fooled by the stats. As I grow older, I understand it's less about the 755 or the bank account and more about the quality of the human being."

June 2007

KeepBillyDonovan Coverage in the Orlando Sentinel

The Orlando Sentinel, one of Florida's largest daily newspapers, covered Fred's KeepBillyDonovan.com campaign during the coaching saga.

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Orlando Sentinel

SPORTS·June 2007
Coach's Move Easier for Fans to Stomach
Orlando Sentinel Staff

The Orlando Sentinel covered the aftermath of Billy Donovan's brief departure to the Orlando Magic and how Gator fans like Fred Marks had rallied to keep the coach at Florida.

April 2007

KeepBillyDonovan in the Gainesville Sun

The Gainesville Sun — the paper of record for UF sports — ran its own story on Fred's KeepBillyDonovan.com campaign during the 2007 Final Four.

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The Gainesville Sun

NEWS·April 2007
UF Fan Creates Web Site to Keep Donovan
JOHN PATTON | Sun Sports Writer

ATLANTA — Gator fan Fred Marks, a commercial realtor in Tampa, has created www.keepbillydonovan.com with the goal of persuading UF supporters to do all they can to make sure Donovan turns down Kentucky's impending job offer to remain at Florida.

A third-generation UF alum, born and raised in Jacksonville, Marks was a college roommate of former Gator football players Carlos Perez and Max Starks.

April 2007

KeepBillyDonovan Campaign in The Ledger

When rumors swirled that Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan might leave for Kentucky after back-to-back national championships, Fred created KeepBillyDonovan.com to rally Gator fans.

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The Ledger

NEWS·April 2007
Fan Tries to Keep Donovan
JOHN PATTON | The Gainesville Sun

ATLANTA — Gator fan Fred Marks, a commercial realtor in Tampa, has created www.keepbillydonovan.com with the goal of persuading UF supporters to do all they can to make sure coach Billy Donovan turns down Kentucky's impending job offer to remain at Florida.

A third-generation UF alum born and raised in Jacksonville, Marks was a college roommate of one-time Gator football players Carlos Perez and Max Starks, and Starks will be in Marks' upcoming wedding.

September 2007

Mentioned in Gainesville Sun Football Coverage

Fred Marks referenced in a Gainesville Sun UF football game notebook — his second mention in the publication.

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Fred Marks referenced in a Gainesville Sun UF football game notebook — his second mention in the publication.

September 2009

Third Mention in the Gainesville Sun

Fred Marks' third mention in the Gainesville Sun, this time in a UF football game notebook covering the 2009 season.

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Fred Marks' third mention in the Gainesville Sun, this time in a UF football game notebook covering the 2009 season.

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