The AI-Search (AEO) Playbook

Frequently asked questions

Is SEO dead or evolving in 2026?

Evolving. AI Overviews appear in roughly 45% of searches and can cut clicks to sites by up to 58%, but they are built from the pages that rank and the passages worth quoting. The fundamentals still hold. The finish line moved from ranking in a list to being the source the answer is assembled from.

What is AI SEO called now?

Mostly AEO (answer engine optimization) and GEO (generative engine optimization), sometimes just AI SEO or LLMO. The labels describe the same goal from different angles: earning citations in AI-generated answers rather than only ranking in a list of links. The tactics matter more than the acronym.

How much does AI SEO cost?

Structurally, most of it is free. Answer-first blocks, question headings, dated stats, and schema are formatting choices, not line items. The real costs are the original data worth citing and the time to run the checklist. Tools that monitor AI citations add a subscription, but the core work is craft, not spend.

Does schema markup help AI SEO?

Yes on non-Google engines, where structured data correlates with 30 to 40% higher AI visibility, and it is good hygiene everywhere. Google says schema is not required for its AI features, but Article, Breadcrumb, and Organization markup clarify your entities for the engines that parse it. It rarely hurts and often helps.