The SEO Debate in the Age of AI Search: What Terms Is the Industry Using?

While the rise of AI-powered search engines has sparked industry-wide discussions on new acronyms like GEO, AEO, and LLM optimization, 81% of marketers still define these strategies under the traditional umbrella of "SEO." Conducted by Fractl with the participation of 343 US-based marketing decision-makers, a recent study reveals that while budgets allocated for AI visibility are growing, the professionals making the purchases remain attached to traditional terminology.

Industry Preferences and Budget Allocation

According to the research data, 70% of marketers seeking professional support for AI search visibility search for terms such as "AI search optimization" (46%) or simply "SEO" (24%). Meanwhile, next-generation acronyms like GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) are used about three times more frequently by C-suite executives than by individual contributors.

On the budget side, marketers allocate an average of 24% of their search and content budgets to AI search visibility. Conversely, 36% of survey respondents view the excessive use of new buzzwords by agencies and vendors without clear explanations as their biggest "red flag" (a trust-damaging factor). Furthermore, 66% of marketers already leverage AI-powered tools when researching marketing vendors.

What Does This Mean?

While terminological confusion persists across the industry, this indicates that marketing budgets and spending habits are rapidly adapting to next-generation search technologies, even though a unified language has yet to emerge. The key takeaway for agencies and service providers is that offering clear methodologies, measurable case studies, and transparent strategies—rather than marketing with complex acronyms—is a far more reliable approach in the eyes of potential clients.

*This news article was prepared based on data published by Search Engine Land.