Search has quietly split in two. People still type into Google u2014 but increasingly they ask ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity, or simply read the AI summary at the top of the results.
Quick answer
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) gets your content into AI Overviews, snippets and voice answers. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) gets your brand cited inside AI assistants. Together they decide whether AI recommends you u2014 or your competitor.
How to optimise for answer engines
- Answer real questions clearly and early on the page.
- Use structured data so machines understand your content.
- Lead with a concise, quotable definition.
- Break ideas into short paragraphs, lists and tables.
- Build genuine authority AI can trust.
SEO is not dead u2014 it is expanding. The brands that win in 2026 optimise for Google and AI together.