A New Wave in Positioning

AI SEO in the Era of AI

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Until recently, we all focused on traditional SEO. Keywords, backlinks, meta tags, and technical optimization were the foundation of Google visibility. But the world has changed. Today, instead of typing queries into a search engine, we are increasingly… talking to AI.

This is exactly where the revolution called AI SEO begins.

What exactly is AI SEO?

AI SEO is a completely new approach to content optimization—not for the Google algorithm, but for Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT or Google AI.

Instead of a traditional list of links, AI provides the user with a direct answer. There’s no need to click anymore—you just ask. This means companies must focus on something entirely new: ensuring their content is the source from which AI draws its information.

The numbers speak for themselves:

  • The AI SEO market is expected to grow from $2.4 billion in 2023 to $17.6 billion by 2033,
  • By 2025, 47% of marketers are already using AI SEO tools,
  • 84% are aligning content with search intent (Source: SEO.com).

This isn’t the future. It’s happening right now.

How LLMs are changing the game

Language models like ChatGPT and Google AI are drastically changing how users search for information. Instead of typing “best SEO tools 2025,” we ask:

👉 “Which SEO tools will work best for my specific business?”

AI immediately provides a ready-made answer, often without any links at all.

The result? Traditional organic traffic is dropping by as much as 15-25%.

Search results increasingly feature AI Overviews—summaries generated by artificial intelligence. Already, 47% of Google results include such answers (Source: Botify).

This means one thing: if your content isn’t being cited by AI, your brand might simply vanish from the users’ field of vision.

How to rank in LLMs

Ranking for LLMs (also known as AI-first SEO) involves creating content that language models consider valuable and trustworthy.

In practice, this means:

  • Write for user intent, not just for keywords,
  • Focus on Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T),
  • Use structured data (schema.org),
  • Create unique, up-to-date, and well-structured content,
  • Write naturally and conversationally, as if to a human—not an algorithm.

These aren’t just minor tweaks to an SEO strategy. This is a completely new approach to visibility.

Data showing the scale of change

  • In 2023, 13 million US citizens used AI for online searches.
  • By 2027, that number will rise to 90 million (Statista).
  • 58% of informational queries already result in an AI summary being displayed (Botify).
  • Organic traffic has dropped by 15–25% due to zero-click searches (Bain & Company).

Companies that quickly implemented AI SEO are seeing better content alignment with users, higher campaign effectiveness, and a stronger competitive edge.

How to rank in Google AI

Google AI isn’t just another algorithm update—it’s a completely new way of processing content. Here are a few steps to take right now:

  1. Check if your content appears in AI results (get an audit from us – Sonada).
  2. Take care of the technicals: speed, UX, and structured data.
  3. Write in natural language—person to person.
  4. Update your content regularly.
  5. Build brand authority—reviews, citations, and online presence.

This is a marathon, not a sprint. But the sooner you start, the greater your advantage.

SEO vs AI SEO – two worlds that must unite

Traditional SEO focuses on visibility in organic results. AI SEO focuses on being part of the answers generated by language models.

The differences are clear:

  • Instead of short keywords, full questions and context matter,
  • Instead of links—the quality and authority of content,
  • Instead of ranking positions—presence in AI recommendations.

The key is combining both approaches. Because one simply doesn’t work without the other.

Why it’s worth acting now

The AI SEO market is growing rapidly. By 2027, as many as 90 million users in the US will be using AI-based search.

Companies that don’t react in time risk losing traffic, customers, and revenue.

Conversely, those who adopt AI SEO early will gain:

  • Visibility in new channels,
  • Greater customer trust,
  • Automation and better data,

and a competitive advantage that will be hard to catch up with.

Summary

AI SEO isn’t an option—it’s a necessity. It’s not just about algorithms; it’s about how people truly search for information today.

If you want your brand to be visible in the era of ChatGPT and Google AI, focus on:

  • High-quality content based on user intent,
  • Structured data and technical site quality,
  • Building authority and online presence,
  • Combining traditional SEO with a new, conversational approach.

Because the future of search won’t belong to those who optimize keywords best. It will belong to those whom AI recognizes as trustworthy sources of information.

💬 What about you? Is your brand already visible in AI results? Let us know in the comments how you’re approaching your SEO strategy in the age of artificial intelligence.