SEO optimizes a page to rank in a list of links. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) optimize that page to be quoted inside an AI-generated answer. AEO and GEO are the same practice under two names.
If the buyer ends in a list of links, that is SEO. If the buyer ends in a paragraph with citations, that is AEO / GEO.
| Dimension | SEO | AEO / GEO |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Search results page | AI answer (ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews) |
| Win condition | Rank in top 3 | Get cited inside the answer |
| Signals | Backlinks, keywords, page speed | Schema, answer formatting, llms.txt, entity clarity |
| Funnel role | Click then convert | Cited then visit then convert |
No. SEO still drives the link-based experience. AEO / GEO drives the answer-based experience. The work overlaps: clean structure, good schema, and answer-first writing help both.