Generative Engine Optimization

Also: GEO, AEO, Answer Engine Optimization

The practice of structuring web content so generative AI engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini) preferentially cite it when answering user queries. Distinct from traditional SEO, which optimizes for ranked links rather than cited passages.

Related terms

AI search
A query interface where the answer is generated by a large language model from cited sources, instead of returned as a list of links. Examples: ChatGPT search, Perplexity, Claude with web search, Google AI Mode.
Citation (in AI search)
A reference to an external source in an AI-generated answer. Citations may be inline hyperlinks, footnotes, or a sources panel. Engines vary in how they expose citations and which sources they prefer.
Schema markup
Structured-data annotation (typically JSON-LD) that describes a page's entities, types, and relationships for search engines. The vocabulary is defined by Schema.org and consumed by Google, Bing, and the retrieval pipelines behind AI search engines.