AI search explained
Search is changing. People who used to type their question into Google are now asking ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or Gemini — and getting a single answer back instead of ten blue links.
That answer either mentions your brand or it doesn't. It either describes you positively or negatively. It either lists you first or fifth. AI search is the new discovery channel, and SimplyRank exists because most brands have no visibility into it.
How AI answers differ from Google results
| Google search | AI search | |
|---|---|---|
| Output | A list of 10 links + ads | One synthesized answer |
| User intent | Click around, evaluate options | Ask a question, get a recommendation |
| Where you appear | A ranked SERP position | Mentioned in the answer (or not) |
| What influences ranking | Backlinks, keywords, technical SEO | Citations, content quality, third-party signals |
| What changes week to week | Algorithm updates, content refreshes | Model updates, citation behavior, content freshness |
In Google, the question "What's the best CRM for an agency?" returns a ranked list. The user reads through, clicks a few, and decides.
In AI, the same question returns: "For agencies, popular choices include HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Close. Each has different strengths..." — followed by a recommendation. There's no ranked SERP; there's a list inside an answer. You're either named in that list or you're not.
The four engines we track
The four AI models that matter most for brand visibility today:
| Engine | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | The largest user base. Where most consumer AI search happens. |
| Claude (Anthropic) | High editorial discipline — Claude tends to cite trusted publishers. Strong B2B usage. |
| Perplexity | Citation-led by design. Always shows source links. Used by people researching purchases. |
| Gemini (Google) | Surfaces in Google AI Overviews and the Gemini app. The closest tie to traditional SEO. |
Each model has different ranking behavior. A brand that ranks well in ChatGPT may be invisible in Claude. SimplyRank shows you all four side-by-side so you can spot variance.
Why it matters now
Three reasons AI search is something to track today rather than later:
1. The audience is real. ChatGPT alone serves hundreds of millions of weekly users. A growing slice of them are asking it for product, service, and brand recommendations.
2. The early movers will compound. Brands tracking now build historical baselines. When they make changes, they can measure the effect. Brands waiting will start with no baseline.
3. Content signals lag. It takes weeks or months for a content change to influence AI recommendations. Tracking weekly means you find out what works while you can still iterate.
The shift in marketing terms
You'll see a few terms used for the same idea:
- AI visibility — How often your brand appears in AI answers. SimplyRank's primary metric.
- AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) — The practice of optimizing for AI answers, the way SEO is the practice of optimizing for search engines. See What is AEO?.
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) — Synonym for AEO; less commonly used.
- AI Overviews — Specifically Google's AI-generated answer at the top of search results.
We use AI visibility for the metric and AEO for the practice.
What's next
Still need help? Email us at [email protected]. Or browse all help articles.