ChatGPT alone pulled in 55.2 billion visits by June 2025—an 80% jump in just one year (Search Engine Land).
Yes, Google still dominates with 34x more traffic, but the gap is closing fast. And that shift brings one undeniable truth: your content must now work for both Google rankings and AI citations.
Let’s break it down.
How Google SEO Works Today
Google has built its empire on short, intent-driven queries like “car insurance UK.”
It evaluates pages based on dozens of ranking factors:
- Backlinks (who links to you)
- Relevance (keyword matching and context)
- Authority (trust signals across the web)
- Technical SEO (site speed, structure, schema)
If you want to rank on Google, you optimize for these pillars.
How AI Search is Different
AI assistants—whether ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini—lean on a different system.
They focus on long, conversational prompts, like:
“What’s the best founders community in Medellín for entrepreneurs?”
Unlike Google, AI doesn’t weigh hundreds of ranking signals. Instead, it looks for:
- Clear, extractable facts
- Citations across multiple sources
- Brand mentions in relevant contexts
That means even without backlinks, your brand can show up in AI responses if you’re consistently cited alongside your industry terms.
The Sweet Spot: What Works for Both Google & AI
If you want future-proof content, adopt strategies that feed both ecosystems:
✅ Use FAQs – Phrase them with “What is…” and “How to…” for natural queries.
✅ Add concise summaries – 2–3 sentences at the top that explain the main takeaway.
✅ Consistent NAP – Ensure your Name, Address, Phone number appear identically across your content.
✅ Factual micro-statements – Break down insights into 1–2 sentence nuggets AI can easily extract.
✅ Cluster your topics – Cover 5–7 related subtopics in one article instead of scattering thin pages.
AI-Specific Tactics That Give You an Edge
If you want to be cited by AI assistants tomorrow, start building authority today:
- Brand Co-Citations – Pitch journalists to mention your company name next to key industry keywords.
- Guest Posting – Even without backlinks, brand mentions matter.
- Data Assets – Publish PDFs or reports with unique stats that others will reference.
- Structured Content – Use lists, bullets, and numbered stats for easy AI parsing.
- Complete Sentences – Write claims like: “The average cost of X is Y” instead of vague phrases.
Why It Matters Right Now
Many marketers dismiss AI search because its traffic is smaller than Google’s—today.
But the brands winning tomorrow are those preparing for both ecosystems now.
If you ignore AI search today, you risk becoming invisible in tomorrow’s answers.
Bottom Line
Google SEO isn’t dead—it’s still the heavyweight.
But AI search is rapidly shaping how people discover, trust, and cite brands.
The opportunity? Build content that feeds both machines.
- Rank high on Google.
- Get cited by AI assistants.
- Future-proof your brand’s visibility.
The ones who adapt fastest will lead the next wave of search.