Want to know how AI Search works? Ask AI
Here is a fun way to use AI chat to gain some understanding and maybe a future edge for your brand awareness.
No doubt you will have seen mind-blowing examples of the technology in action. But for most non-technical folks, it can be quite intimidating to understand where AI is going and what to do for their businesses.
So, if you consider yourself a non-techie, here is a quick way to get knowledge and comfort fast. If you are stuck on an issue with AI, just ask AI. Let me show you what I mean…
I have been working on research for a client on marketing tools for AI. One of the areas I looked into was AI search. This summer, I used ChatGPT to plan a road trip, and its recommendations were spot-on. AI chat isn’t just about convenience—it’s about reshaping how we search, learn, and decide. And businesses that adapt to this shift stand to gain a major edge.
The Decline of Traditional Search?
Gartner predict by 2026, traditional search volume is expected to drop by 25%, while organic traffic could halve. Why? Consumers are turning to AI-powered search, which offers personalized, conversational results.
Consumer Trust in AI
Today, 70% of users trust AI-generated search results, and 79% plan to integrate AI-enhanced tools into their routines within the next year. This isn’t just a trend—it’s the future.Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
Move over, SEO. GEO is the new buzzword, spotlighting the strategies businesses need to ensure visibility in AI-driven queries.
How to Get Your Brand Mentioned
I wanted to make my client aware of this shift and provide them with information of how to get mentioned in AI query results. Part of this work involved trying some sample prompts on a number of chat LLM’s to see if their brand was mentioned. It had mixed results. It was highly recommended on one platform ChatGPT, but not mentioned initially at all in another Perplexity.
This is where the fun started. Using a number of follow up prompts, I was able to quiz the models on why they have made their choices. What were the key elements that made them mention one brand over another? How do they do about their process? What would brand x need to do to get mentioned in the original query?
These follow-up queries threw up lots of interesting pointers on how the models work and what brands can do to have better visibility to LLM’s.
Redacted summarized view of query on Perplexity on how the model considers one brand more suitable mention than another – source Perplexity.
It’s certainly a more fun way of learning about how it works than trawling through technical papers. I am not naive enough to think that these answers are the chapter and verse for AI search optimization. However, these are really good pointers for marketing teams to work on to ensure that they will be returned through ranking engines and AI searches in the future.
Take the Leap: Test It Yourself
Why rely solely on reports when you can experiment with AI tools directly? Run your own brand-related prompts, tweak the questions, and uncover actionable insights. It’s a hands-on, engaging way to demystify AI.
Curious about how your business can thrive in the AI era? Let’s start a conversation—email norman@bocaedge.com today!