Google says GEO, AEO, and AIO are all still SEO, and low-value “commodity content” is what AI will replace first. The winners will focus on original, human-first content and multimodal experiences that AI can’t fake.
If you have been scrambling to learn GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), or AIO (AI Optimization), Google’s Search Liaison Danny Sullivan has a message for you: Relax. It’s still just SEO.
In the latest episode of the Search Off the Record podcast, Sullivan joined Google Search Advocate John Mueller to discuss the evolving relationship between SEO and Artificial Intelligence. The duo dismantled the panic surrounding new AI search formats and offered a “North Star” for content creators worried about the future of traffic.
Here is the breakdown of what Google wants you to know about AI SEO Services.
1. The Alphabet Soup of Acronyms is Unnecessary
Sullivan opened the discussion by joking about the industry’s tendency to invent new acronyms (joking about “LNOPO”). He emphasized that while the formats are changing, the discipline remains the same.
“SEO is the practice of improving content for search engines,” Sullivan stated. “I don’t think that the nature of search engines changing and getting new format changes [means] that the umbrella term remains SEO. AEO, GEO, whatever you want to call it, to me would be a subset of SEO.”
The Takeaway: Optimizing for AI isn’t a separate discipline. If you are already creating content designed to satisfy human users, you are already optimizing for AI overviews.
2. The Death of “Commodity Content”
One of the most critical warnings from the episode was regarding “commodity content”—basic factual information that lacks a unique perspective.
Sullivan used the example of the Super Bowl. For years, websites would write 2,000-word articles about the history of football just to answer the query, “What time is the Super Bowl?” Now, AI and Knowledge Graphs answer that instantly.
“If you’re really trying to reframe your mind about what’s important… there’s a lot of content that is just kind of commodity content, factual information, and I think that the LLM AI systems are doing a good job of presenting that,” Sullivan explained.
The Strategy Shift: If your content strategy relies on answering basic facts that an AI can summarize in two sentences, you will lose traffic. The solution is Originality. Google is actively trying to reward content that offers a unique voice, first-hand experience, or an authentic “take” that an LLM cannot manufacture.
3. “Multimodal” is the New Standard
While Sullivan admitted he hates the buzzword “multimodal,” he emphasized its importance. Users are no longer just typing keywords; they are searching with images and video.
He shared an anecdote about using Google Lens to identify geese behavior via video rather than text. The search engine processed the video and returned a text answer.
For website owners, this means text alone is no longer enough. To appear in AI-driven results, creators must integrate:
- Original Images
- Video Content
- Podcasts/Audio
This “multimodal” approach helps content surface regardless of how the user initiates the search (text, voice, or camera).
4. Moving Beyond the Click: “Query Fan Out”
Mueller and Sullivan discussed a concept called “Query Fan Out.” This describes how AI agents perform multiple “incremental” searches on behalf of the user to build a single answer.
In the past, a user might perform five different searches to plan a project, clicking back and forth between results (pogo-sticking). Now, the AI does that “fan out” work instantly.
This changes how we measure success. Sullivan suggests that while raw click volume for basic queries might drop, the traffic that does click through will be more contextually aware and ready to convert.
“We think these formats are putting people into a better state of contextual awareness,” Sullivan said. “People understand better what they’re getting into after they read one of these things.”
5. Technical SEO is Fading; Content is King
The conversation highlighted a shift away from technical obsession. Mueller noted that modern CMS platforms (like WordPress or Wix) handle most technical heavy lifting automatically.
“It’s almost like that technical side of things is a lot less in the foreground now and you can really focus on the content,” Mueller observed.
The episode concluded with a reminder that chasing algorithms is a losing battle. If you optimize specifically for a current AI model (“GEO”), you will fall behind when that model updates next month.
Key Takeaways:
-
Prioritize real human value: Focus on authentic experiences and insights that come from first-hand expertise, not generic summaries.
-
Lead with originality: Invest in original research, unique perspectives, and data that AI can’t easily replicate.
-
Think beyond text: Use multimedia—images, video, and audio—to create richer, more engaging content experiences.
Dileep Thekkethil
AuthorDileep Thekkethil is the Director of Marketing at Stan Ventures, where he applies over 15 years of SEO and digital marketing expertise to drive growth and authority. A former journalist with six years of experience, he combines strategic storytelling with technical know-how to help brands navigate the shift toward AI-driven search and generative engines. Dileep is a strong advocate for Google’s EEAT standards, regularly sharing real-world use cases and scenarios to demystify complex marketing trends. He is an avid gardener of tropical fruits, a motor enthusiast, and a dedicated caretaker of his pair of cockatiels.