Glossary
AI Search
The shift from typing keywords into a search box to asking AI assistants conversational questions.
Definition
AI search refers to the broader user behavior of using LLM-powered tools as the starting point for product research, comparison shopping, and information discovery. Unlike traditional search, AI search returns synthesized answers rather than ranked links, which means your brand either appears in the answer or it doesn't. There is no "page two."
Example
A buyer asks ChatGPT "what's the best HR platform for a 50-person company?" instead of Googling it and clicking through review sites.
Related terms
AI Engine
A general term for the AI assistants and answer products that synthesize responses from multiple sources: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Grok, Google AI Overviews and Google AI Mode.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
The practice of optimizing your brand and content so that AI answer engines cite you when users ask direct questions.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
The practice of optimizing your brand and content to be cited, recommended, and described favorably by generative AI engines.
Answer Engine
A search product that returns a direct synthesized answer instead of a list of links: Perplexity, ChatGPT Search, Google AI Overviews.
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