What is GEO?

GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization. It is how brands get cited and recommended by generative AI — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and AI Overviews — when those systems write answers.

Think of it this way: SEO was about being found. GEO is about being quoted. When a buyer asks "what is the best tool for X?", the AI composes an answer from sources it trusts. GEO is the work of becoming one of those sources.

What AI systems look for

Clear, quotable facts. Pages that state plainly what a product does, who it is for, and what it costs are easier for an AI to cite than vague marketing copy.
Third-party mentions. Reviews, comparisons, and lists that name your brand carry weight, because the AI treats them as independent evidence.
Consistency. If ten sources describe you ten different ways, the AI has nothing solid to quote.

GEO vs AEO

The two terms overlap heavily. AEO is the older name, tied to voice assistants and featured snippets. GEO is the newer name, tied to generative AI — the term comes from the 2024 research paper "GEO: Generative Engine Optimization" (Aggarwal et al.). In practice, the work is the same: be findable, be quotable, be consistent. Read the AEO guide.

See where you stand. The free audit snapshot shows which brands AI names in your niche — and whether yours is among them.