The way users search is fundamentally shifting. Instead of clicking through link lists, users are getting full, conversational answers from AI.
Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Gemini generate direct responses to user questions using large language models (LLMs). In this new search landscape, visibility is no longer just about ranking first in Google. It is about being part of the answer.
In this article, we’ll explain how AI Search works, what it means for your SEO strategy, and how XOVI is exploring ways to help businesses stay discoverable in a world where large language models (LLMs) shape the future of online visibility.
What Is AI Search and Why It Changes Everything
Traditional search involves typing a keyword, scanning through links, and clicking to visit websites. In contrast, AI Search delivers direct answers, often without requiring a user to click anywhere.
LLMs are trained on large datasets and increasingly enhanced through retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), a technique that lets the model pull live, up-to-date content from the web before generating its answers.
This shift is already underway and rapidly accelerating.
Gartner predicts that traditional search engine volume will drop by 25% by 2026, as users increasingly turn to AI chatbots and virtual agents—contributing to the rise of zero-click searches that reduce direct web traffic. (source: Alan Antin, Vice President Analyst at Gartner)
A Google search result for ‘best credit card 2025’ vs An AI-generated answer from ChatGPT
A Google search result for “best credit card 2025”
An AI-generated answer from ChatGPT
Why Visibility in AI Search Matters
LLMs are becoming preferred sources for discovery and recommendations. For many users, asking ChatGPT “What’s the best software for SEO?” replaces the need to search and click through multiple websites.
This creates both opportunities and risks:
- Your brand might be recommended as the answer.
- Or your competitors might be the only ones cited.
By optimizing for AI Search, you can:
- Inclusion in answers: LLMs make direct product recommendations.
- Early mover advantage: Very few companies are optimizing for LLMs yet.
- Brand loyalty: Consistent inclusion in LLM answers can build recognition and foster user trust over time.
- Increased authority: LLMs favor trusted, structured content.
- Potential traffic boost: Some models, like Perplexity, link back to your site.
How LLMs Choose What to Show
LLMs don’t work like keyword search engines. They analyze semantic relationships, context, and authority to generate answers.
Factors that influence your inclusion:
- Co-occurrence and semantic proximity to a topic
- Reputation and citations from high-authority sites
- Clarity and formatting, including structured Q&A and cited data
- Entity recognition, especially if your brand appears in sources like Wikipedia or Reddit
Example: Ask Perplexity “What’s the best ergonomic office chair?”
Brands like Herman Miller and Steelcase often appear because they’re associated with high-quality, cited reviews and product pages.
What Is LLM Optimization (LLMO)?
LLMO is a strategy that helps your brand appear in AI-generated content and recommendations. It builds on classic SEO but focuses on how AI systems learn, retrieve, and generate answers.
Top LLM Optimization Strategies
- Earn citations through PR and backlinks
Get featured in high-authority publications like Forbes or TechRadar. - Use question-driven content
Create articles that answer natural-language queries, not just keywords. - Add quotes, stats, and examples
These elements are often cited by AI tools like Perplexity and Bard. - Optimize for entities, not just keywords
LLMs recognize brands based on how they’re described across the web. - Get active on UGC platforms
Reddit, Quora, and forums are frequently referenced by AI systems.
Why Classic SEO Isn’t Enough Anymore
You might be ranking well in traditional search, but if AI tools aren’t citing you, you’re invisible to a growing portion of users.
Here’s how SEO metrics are shifting:
| Traditional SEO Metric | AI Search Metric |
| Keyword rank | Brand mentions in LLMs |
| Backlinks | Citations and co-occurrence |
| Click-through rate | Visibility in AI answers |
| Domain authority | Trust signals from AI citations |
Classic SEO is still valuable, but on its own, it’s no longer enough.
How XOVI Plans to Help You Win in AI Search
We know SEO is changing fast — and we’re building tools to help you adapt.
At XOVI, we’re actively exploring ways to help brands stay visible in a world where AI answers, not blue links, are the norm. Our product team is currently working on an AI Search Toolkit prototype that aims to give you insights into how your brand shows up in tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.
While it’s still in development, here’s a glimpse of what we’re thinking:
- Monitor brand mentions in AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity
- Compare visibility with competitors
- Discover the prompts that lead to your brand being mentioned
- Identify which URLs and content pieces are being cited
These are early concepts. We’re validating technical feasibility and fine-tuning what’s possible. If this sounds interesting, we’d love to hear from you.
👉 Ready to future-proof your content? Start your free trial with XOVI
Stay tuned — we’ll share updates as we refine the prototype and move toward a production-ready version.
Final Thoughts: AI Search Is Not the Future, It’s the Present
Search is no longer just about being first on Google. It’s about being the trusted, cited, and recommended source inside the tools users trust most.
As AI transforms how people discover products and information, brands must adapt their strategies. The sooner you start optimizing for LLMs, the more share of visibility you’ll own.
“If zero-click searches are the future, then being the source of the answer is the new SEO.”
– Rand Fishkin, Founder of SparkToro
XOVI is here to help you stay relevant, discoverable, and cited in the age of AI.
TL;DR: What to Do Now
- Understand how AI tools mention your brand
- Create helpful, question-based content
- Earn citations from trusted sources
- Start tracking LLM trends and mentions
- Let us know if you’re interested in early access
👉 Ready to future-proof your content? Start your free trial with XOVI