TL;DR – This Month in AI + SEO
- Google’s AI Mode may become the default, but Google says not just yet.
- Welcome to GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) – a new way to optimize for visibility in AI-generated answers. What is GEO?
- GEO performance is hard to measure – we explain what shows up, what doesn’t, and what to do about it. Measuring GEO
- We break down what you can measure, what you can’t, and how to optimize anyway.
AI continues to reshape the way we think about content, search, and visibility – but it’s not always clear what’s signal and what’s noise.
Last week’s back-and-forth from Google about AI Mode becoming the default search experience sent SEOs into overdrive. Some insiders say it’s “coming soon.” Others say, “don’t read too much into that.” Either way, one thing is certain:
AI-powered search is here, and we need to be optimizing for it now, not later.
AI Mode May Become the Default Search Experience (Or… Maybe Not Just Yet)
Google’s AI Mode is now live at google.com/ai, offering AI-powered answers, comparisons, and follow-up questions in a cleaner, more “conversational” interface.
Yes, Logan Kilpatrick (Google PM) said it would become the default “soon,” but VP Robby Stein clarified not to read too much into that. So for now, AI Mode is opt-in – but growing fast.
As it spreads, it’s bringing a new challenge: How do you measure visibility and impact when clicks disappear and citations replace rankings?
GEO: What We Can and Can’t Track (Yet)
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the emerging practice of optimizing content to show up in AI-generated responses – whether in Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini.
But here’s the kicker: visibility doesn’t mean traffic, and performance data is murky at best.
What’s trackable right now:
- AI mentions and citation rate: Tools are emerging to track when your brand is cited in generative answers. High citation = the new “Position 1.”
- Referral traffic from generative engines: Some platforms link back to your site. You can segment this traffic, though it’s messy.
- Share of voice in AI answers: How often your brand shows up in response to core queries.
- Content prominence: Where you appear in the AI response (first bullet? buried in a footnote?).
What’s still missing:
- Prompt volume: Unlike keyword search, generative engines don’t show how many people ask about your topic.
- Why a citation happened: You might know you were cited, but not what triggered it.
- Attribution blending: When multiple sources are synthesized, you don’t know how much credit your content gets.
The visibility you gain may not show up in GA or GSC, but that doesn’t mean it’s not influencing behavior.
Read the full breakdown: Measuring GEO: What’s trackable now and what’s still missing →
AI Optimization Strategies for GEO
Since traditional rankings are becoming less useful in AI-driven search, focus your content efforts on:
1. Citability
- Use clear, well-structured language that answers questions directly
- Add author names, dates, and trustworthy references
- Use schema to reinforce credibility and clarity
2. Entity depth
- Build out topic clusters around key services, products, and concepts
- Reference consistent brand terms and terminology
- Make your content easy for machines to map into known entities
3. Semantic alignment
- Write in natural language with depth, not fluff
- Include supporting terms and related ideas, not just target keywords
- Use headings, tables, and structured data to make parsing easier
From the Studio
We’re helping clients:
- Track mentions across generative platforms
- Restructure content for maximum “AI-readability”
- Run prompt simulations to see how content holds up in LLM outputs
- Build GEO-focused content strategies based on emerging citation data
Want to know if your brand is showing up in AI results (even if it’s not driving clicks)?
What We’re Into
Prompt of the Month:
“Act as a generative engine. Here’s my article. Would you cite it in response to this question? Why or why not?”
Tool to Watch:
We’re testing new AI SEO tools that track brand mentions in AI responses across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI. Hit us up if you want our shortlist.
Final Word
GEO isn’t about chasing rankings, it’s about earning trust from machines. That means clarity, consistency, and credibility are your most important assets. The next wave of SEO success belongs to brands who can show up, even when there’s no click.
The SEO Strategy Reset
The old tactics - keyword stuffing, chasing backlinks, and posting for posting’s sake - no longer deliver real results. With AI answering users directly in search, content without original insight and value simply won’t be seen.
What’s working now:
focused content clusters, experience-driven perspectives, structured data, lightning-fast mobile performance, and building true user trust over vanity metrics.
AI, SEO & LLMs: The Future of Search
Large language models like ChatGPT and Gemini are changing how people search and consume information. It’s not about ranking for keywords anymore - it’s about showing up in the AI-generated answers.
That means adopting AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) so content is structured, machine-readable, and ready for AI to pull in.
Adapting to AI-Driven Search
We’re rethinking how content is created - clear question-and-answer formats, robust schema markup, and entity-based optimization so AI systems can easily understand and recommend it.
I’m also leveraging AI tools to audit and refine content, making sure it stays competitive even in zero-click environments.
Quote of the Month:
When someone on X (formerly Twitter) said AI Mode should be the default, a Google Product Manager for AI, simply replied:
“soon :)”
Logan Kilpatrick
Featured Service
AI Marketing & SEO Optimization (GEO)
We help brands stay visible in AI-driven search by optimizing for Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, and more. Our Generative Engine Optimization approach blends AI tools with human expertise to structure, personalize, and future-proof content - so it’s ready to appear in both traditional search results and AI-generated answers.
Want help adapting your SEO strategy for the AI era? Hit reply and let’s talk.
