Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO): how to rank first on ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Mode

At Google I/O on 19–20 May 2026, Liz Reid (head of Google Search) made a statement that matters more than any technical update: “Google Search is AI Search through and through.” Not “is becoming”. Not “integrates AI”. It is AI.

Over the previous twelve months, the shift was already evident in the data. But with Google I/O 2026 it became official: traditional search (blue links, organic rankings, position-one CTR) is no longer the main playing field. The main playing field is the generative answer. And for a growing share of users, anyone not cited in that answer simply does not exist.

To separate what generative engines can actually do from commercial promises, the starting point is how artificial intelligence works.

These are the figures that define the context for anyone who wants to be found online in 2026:

• Google’s AI Mode passed 1 billion monthly users in its first year, with queries doubling every quarter
• AI Overviews now appear in 48% of queries on Google, up from 13% at the start of 2026 and 6% in March 2025
• ChatGPT has 769 million monthly active users, with over 800 million sessions a week
• Google Gemini is the fastest-growing player, with hundreds of millions of monthly active users, boosted by native integration into Search, Android and Workspace
• 90% of AI Mode searches no longer generate a click to external sites: users stay within the AI interface
• In Italy, 48% of the population already uses generative AI (Euroconsumers/Altroconsumo, January 2026), with growth of 20% in a single year

The figure that changes everything for marketers: brands cited within an AI Overview earn 35% more organic clicks than competitors not cited on the same query, and 91% more paid clicks. In 2026, being cited by AI is worth more than ranking first in the SERP.

What AIO is, and why it is not the same as SEO

Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO) is the set of techniques for optimising a brand’s presence so that it is selected, cited and recommended by AI-powered search engines: Google AI Mode, Google AI Overview, ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot and Gemini.

The difference from SEO is structural, not one of degree.

With SEO, the goal is positioning: securing a place in search results, earning a click, driving traffic to the site.

With AIO, the goal is to be cited: to enter the AI answer as an authoritative source, building presence and authority even if the user never visits the site.

The most precise analogy: SEO is competing for a shelf in a bookshop. AIO is becoming the book the bookseller recommends aloud, without the customer having to get up from their chair. Equally essential is to create and structure a brand that is recognisable, so as not to be left out of this mechanism.

Google itself, in its official guide of May 2026, confirmed that AIO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) are not disciplines separate from SEO; they are SEO done well, with an additional focus on structured content, a unique point of view and semantic accessibility for AI systems.

The Google I/O 2026 announcements that change the rules of the game

On 19–20 May 2026, Google announced the most significant changes to search in 25 years. These are the points that directly affect AIO strategy.

AI Mode: conversational search becomes the default

AI Mode is no longer an experimental feature. With 1 billion monthly users and Gemini 3.5 Flash as the default model, it is how most users interact with Google. Queries are longer, more complex and multi-turn. Users attach documents, images and files. Single-keyword search is a dying behaviour.

Practical implication for AIO: content optimised for short queries (“best SEO agency Rome”) must be complemented by content that answers complex questions (“what is the difference between traditional SEO and GEO for a B2B company that wants to position itself in Italy in 2026”).

Information Agents: the AI crawler working 24/7 for the user

The most significant development for content publishers. Google has launched Information Agents: AI agents that run in the background, continuously monitor the web and send users synthesised updates when something changes on a specific topic.

The user sets the topic once (“monitor news on GEO and AIO in Italy for me”) and the agent works autonomously, citing the sources it considers most authoritative and up to date.

Practical implication for AIO: content freshness has never been so critical. An article not updated for 3 months is overtaken by a more recent source: not through traditional ranking, but by the AI agent that has already found something fresher. Regularly updating key content is not an optimisation: it is a survival requirement for AI visibility.

May 2026 Core Update: rolled out on 21 May

Alongside Google I/O, on 21 May 2026 Google launched the second Core Update of the year. Google recommends not reacting with hasty changes during the rollout (which lasts around two weeks) and analysing the data in Search Console only once the update has fully completed. Technical SEO best practices remain valid: crawling allowed, accessible content, internal linking, an excellent user experience.

Why monitoring AI visibility is essential

Leveraging AI mentions for traffic and brand equity Even if users do not click straight away, being mentioned by ChatGPT or Google AI builds brand trust. 45% of users who receive an AI recommendation then search for the brand on Google: the AI citation generates branded search, which in turn strengthens the brand entity in the Knowledge Graph.

Understanding positioning in the new search ecosystem AI Overviews now appear in 48% of queries. If you are not among the selected sources, you are ceding visibility to those who have already optimised for this channel.

Understanding the internal algorithm of AIs Tools such as Semrush, Ahrefs and SEOZoom include sections dedicated to how AIs cite your brand. The main factors for appearing in AI answers:

• Volume of brand mentions on authoritative sites
• Consistent “branded” anchor text across the web
• Volume of brand-name searches (branded search)

Optimising content for LLMs AI favours structured, authoritative and data-driven content. SEOZoom helps assess whether a text meets AI requirements, while Semrush shows which pages already appear in AI results in your sector.

SEO + AIO + Brand = the integrated system

To stand out in ChatGPT answers and in Google AI Overview, you need a synergistic approach built on three pillars:

1. Traditional SEO: the technical foundation

Solid on-site optimisation is the price of entry. 96% of the links cited in AI Overviews come from sites already ranking in the top 10 organic results. Make sure you:

• Use well-structured architectures, with a logical H2/H3 hierarchy, tables and integrated CTAs
• Optimise technical SEO: loading times, mobile-first, schema markup for AI-friendly answers
• Build a network of strategic internal links, connecting relevant content to strengthen topical authority

2. AIO-ready content: structured to be extracted

In the AI era, thin, vague content is not rewarded: it takes authority, depth and a structure designed to be extracted by models. Here is what is needed:

• H2s phrased as direct questions: “How does GEO work in 2026?” not “GEO in 2026”
• A concise answer in the first 2–3 lines of each section, before any deeper analysis
• Long-form articles (2,000+ words) with a clear H2/H3 structure and correct HTML tags for LLM readability
• Case studies built into the content: create “brand-within-content” narratives with a named client and a stated KPI
• Figures with source and year: “48% of Italian queries include an AI Overview (Google, May 2026)”
• Branded, vertical content: if you operate in luxury or B2B, talk about that specific world with real tools, KPIs and scenarios, not standard definitions

3. Branding: the lever that makes the difference in AI answers

AIs favour brands recognised as entities in the Knowledge Graph. That is why it is essential to build and structure a brand with strong, consistent signals:

• Only 4–5% of branded keywords trigger an AI Overview, but those that appear record +18–19% CTR
• A solid brand generates frequent brand mentions, improving its “entity authority” in AI systems
• Structured, authoritative content increases the chances of appearing in AI answers, even for queries that are not directly branded

The 5 pillars of AIO in 2026

1. E-E-A-T: the human signature AIs look for

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness. With the proliferation of AI-generated content, signals of genuine human authorship carry growing algorithmic weight:

• Articles signed by an identifiable author, with a detailed bio and a link to their LinkedIn profile
• Case studies with a named client and a stated numerical KPI
• Citations of primary sources (official Google data, industry reports) with verifiable links
• Visible update date: “Updated: May 2026” in the header

2. Brand entity: being recognisable to AI models

Complete Organization schema markup: name, url, logo, foundingDate, legalName, address, sameAs (LinkedIn, Wikidata, Google Business Profile). NAP consistency across all platforms. Google Business Profile optimised with specific categories and weekly posts.

3. Systematic freshness

With Information Agents, update frequency has become a primary AIO ranking factor. Every refresh should include at least: 1 updated figure with its source, 1 new or rewritten H2 section, and an updated meta title with the current year. After each update: GSC → URL Inspection → Request indexing.

4. Presence on third-party platforms

AI systems build their answers on authoritative external sources. Being present only on your own website is not enough. Priorities: Google Business Profile, Trustpilot, Clutch.co, Sortlist. Digital PR in publications such as Inside Marketing, Ninja Marketing, Engage — the sources Gemini and Perplexity consult for Italian industry queries.

5. Social & PR as AI fuel

Engagement signals and mentions from external sources feed AI models through training data and retrieval. A mention in an authoritative publication is worth more than ten optimised internal pages. A social media management strategy becomes an integral part of AIO.

Why positioning in AI answers is worth more than ranking first in the SERPs

Instant trust

When ChatGPT or Gemini mention a brand, they do so in the tone of an “expert adviser”, not a list of results. For the user, it is like receiving advice from an industry professional. This perception creates immediate trust, impossible to replicate with a standard organic result.

Fewer distractions, maximum attention

In AI Mode there are no banners, carousels or sponsored links competing for attention. The user receives a single, focused answer. Fewer distractions mean greater engagement and a higher likelihood of conversion.

Lasting, multiplied visibility

AI answers do not stand alone. When a user asks a follow-up question, the AI retains the context of the previous conversation: if your brand appeared in the initial answer, it is more likely to be included in that user’s subsequent interactions.

Measurable commercial results

• +35% organic clicks for brands cited in AI Overviews compared with those not cited for the same query
• +91% paid clicks on the same query
• +18–19% CTR on branded keywords that trigger AI Overviews

AIO is the present, not the future

In July 2025, when this article was published, AI Mode was an experimental feature available only in the US. Today, in May 2026, it has passed 1 billion monthly users and is available in Italy with full Italian-language support.

The change is not coming. It has already happened.

AIO combines:

• Traditional SEO → technical structure, keywords, authority
• AI SEO / AEO / GEO → content optimisation for conversational AI
• Advanced branding → awareness, entity authority and branded search
• Social & PR → real signals, external mentions, valuable content

For brands operating in competitive markets (B2B, luxury, professional services), the question is no longer “is AIO worth investing in?”. It is “how much ground have I already ceded to the competitors who got there first?”.