AEO vs. GEO vs. AI SEO: What Should You Call It?

Three terms, one discipline

The practice of optimizing content to be cited by AI models currently goes by three names in the industry: AEO, GEO, and AI SEO. Three leading practitioners have made the case for each.

The case for AEO

AEO focuses on the output of AI models. Answers. The argument is that answer engine best captures what LLMs actually are and what optimization should target. AEO also has no conflicting prior associations in the industry, making it a clean category term.

The case for GEO

GEO focuses on the engine itself rather than its output. Proponents argue that as AI models evolve beyond just answering questions to planning, routing, and transacting, generative engine captures the broader scope of what is being optimized.

The case for AI SEO

AI SEO frames the discipline as an evolution of existing SEO rather than a new category. This makes it easier for stakeholders and executives to understand and creates a natural bridge from existing search optimization knowledge.

What the AI models themselves say

ChatGPT prefers GEO. Perplexity prefers AI SEO. Gemini prefers AEO. The discipline itself has not reached consensus but the underlying practice is the same regardless of what you call it.

Key takeaways:

• All three terms (AEO, GEO, AI SEO) describe the same underlying practice
• AEO is cleanest as a category term with no conflicting associations
• The terminology debate reflects genuine uncertainty about where the discipline is headed
• What you call it matters less than whether you are doing it