Is AEO different from SEO?
For Google Search, AEO and GEO are part of SEO. Google describes optimizing for its AI features as ordinary search optimization. AEO and GEO are useful lenses, mostly about writing and structure.
What is the evidence?
Proven Google’s documentation says pages need to be indexed and eligible to be shown with a snippet, with no additional technical requirements for its AI features, and that special files or markup are not needed. Industry coverage of Google’s guidance summarizes it as AEO and GEO still being SEO.
Where do they differ in practice?
- Practice AEO puts more weight on direct, self-contained answers.
- Practice GEO puts more weight on being a trusted, citable source across the web.
- Experimental Agent optimization adds interaction questions that search never had.
What should you do?
Fix the fundamentals first: SEO fundamentals for AI search. Then refine writing using answer-first content.