Generative engine optimization (GEO), explained
The name comes from a research paper that called AI answer tools generative engines. These tools search the web, read a few pages, and write one answer with links to their sources. GEO asks how a page can earn a place in that answer.
Google’s own guide says that, from its side, optimizing for these AI features is optimizing for search, so it is still SEO. A page must be indexed and allowed to show a snippet before Google’s AI features can use it. The paper’s authors tested changes such as adding sources, quotes and real numbers, and reported visibility gains of up to 40% in their test setup.
Is GEO different from SEO?
Google says no, at least for Google Search. Its guide calls the AI features part of search and says the usual SEO advice still applies. Other AI tools may work in other ways, so the safe plan is one good page that serves both a list of links and a written answer.
What does GEO work look like on a page?
It looks like good search work: a clear answer near the top, headings that match real questions, named sources, and facts a reader can check. Google lists files like llms.txt and splitting pages into small chunks as things you do not need for Google Search.
Questions
What does GEO stand for?
GEO stands for generative engine optimization. It means shaping pages so AI tools that write answers are more likely to use and cite them.
Does Google treat GEO as separate from SEO?
No. Google’s guide says optimizing for its generative AI features is still SEO, and that the usual SEO best practices still apply.
Where did the term GEO come from?
It was named in a research paper by Aggarwal and others, presented at the KDD conference. The paper measured how often a source shows up in answers written by AI search tools.
Where we use this term
Sources
- GEO: Generative Engine Optimization. Aggarwal et al., KDD 2024 (arXiv). .
- Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search. Google Search Central. .
Definition checked against these sources and our own pages on .