SEO, AIO, GEO, SAIO : What should you focus on?

These days, we keep hearing about SEO… or is it SAIO? Wait, maybe GEO… and AEO or AIO?

• Some people say SEO is dead.

• Others claim AIO is the future.

• And then there’s GEO and AEO… and sometimes I wonder if we’re talking about the same things or completely different worlds.

  
  

One thing is certain: these new techniques bring more clarity now that AI sits at the core of search engines. All of them complement SEO and rely on similar strategies aimed at increasing a website’s visibility. In the end, what matters isn’t just the trendy acronym or figuring out who’s right or wrong, but understanding the logic and the practical application behind it.

In short: SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) focuses on ranking in traditional search results for clicks. The other acronyms - AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation), AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimisation), GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation), and SAIO (Search Artificial Intelligence Optimisation) - focus on making your content the direct answer within AI chat and search summaries. They all rely on the same core principle: building authority and providing clear, trustworthy information.

Table of contents

• What are these acronyms, really?

• Key differences: from keywords to trust

• Why this matters: the impact of AI on search traffic

• The bottom line: what to focus on now

What are these acronyms, really?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, here's a simple breakdown:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimisation): The traditional practice of optimising a website to rank high on search engines like Google to earn clicks.

• AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) / GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) / SAIO (Search Artificial Intelligence Optimisation): These are all terms for the new practice of optimising your content to be used directly in the answers generated by AI tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity. The goal is no longer just to get a click, but to be the answer.

Key differences: from keywords to trust

The shift from SEO to AIO/GEO changes the focus of our optimisation efforts.

	Traditional SEO (Then)	AIO / GEO (Now & Future)
Focus	Humans	AI answers and AI content reuse.
Optimise	Keywords	Answer clusters and discoverability.
Output	Blog links	Direct chat answers, summaries, frameworks, and definitions.
Goal	Rank for a click	Be quoted by AI; have content reused by AI.
Audience	Humans	AI (Language Models) and AI training data.

The most important change is the move away from just keywords and backlinks towards authority and trust. AI Overviews consistently cite established, authoritative domains and brands with strong recognition. One study found that 58% of users choose brands they recognise in AI summaries over other, more topically relevant results.

Why this matters: the impact of AI on search traffic

Ignoring this shift is risky. Traditional search traffic is already declining as users get answers directly from AI. Gartner projects a 25% decrease in traffic from traditional search engines, and some data shows clicks on the #1 position in Google drop by over 30% when an AI Overview is present.

The bottom line: what to focus on now

So, which of these acronyms do you actually use in your daily work?

The practical answer is: all of them, by focusing on the underlying strategy. Don't worry about the specific acronym. Instead, focus on making your website the most authoritative, clear, and trustworthy source of information in your field.

1. Prioritise trust and recognition: Build genuine authority that users and AI recognise. This involves showcasing expertise (E-E-A-T) and getting mentioned on authoritative sites.

   
   

2. Structure for answers, not just keywords: Format your content with clear questions as headings, provide direct answers, and use lists and tables to make information easy for AI to extract.

   
   

3. Validate your expertise: Engage in communities where users seek human validation, like Reddit and industry forums. 30% of users who click out from an AI Overview go to these platforms to verify the information.

   
   

Conclusion

• SEO aims for clicks; AIO/GEO aims for your content to be the answer.

• Trust and authority now beat simple keyword matching.

• Focus on creating clearly structured, expert-driven content that answers your audience's questions directly.

• The "winner" is the brand that both humans and AI models recognise as the most reliable source.

The world of search is evolving faster than ever. What's your take on this shift? Drop a comment below with your own experiences or questions. For a deeper analysis of how your brand appears in AI search, consider scheduling an audit with me.

Author Bio :

Hey! I'm Tiguida, "AI Enthusiast" growth consultant with over a decade of experience helping organisations navigate digital transformation. I specialise in creating actionable AI strategies that turn technological complexity into real-world business opportunities.