AI Search
In one line
AI Search is the umbrella term for any search experience where an LLM writes the answer directly — covering AI Overviews, ChatGPT Search, Perplexity and the rest.
Going deeper
AI Search is the broadest label for the family of search experiences where an LLM writes the answer. It covers generative search, answer engines, AI Overviews, ChatGPT Search and similar surfaces — the same thing marketing decks mean when they say 'the AI Search era'.
In day-to-day work the term gets used at the KPI level: 'how does our brand show up across AI Search surfaces' is shorthand for measuring the whole family rather than one channel at a time.
Definitions are loose, though. Some sources include consumer chatbot answers, others restrict it to search-intent prompts. When you cite external benchmarks, check what the author actually folded under 'AI Search' first.
Related terms
Generative Search
Generative search is the search paradigm where results are delivered as an LLM-written answer rather than a list of links — think AI Overviews, ChatGPT Search, Perplexity.
GEO·AEOAnswer Engine
An answer engine is a search system that returns the answer itself — usually a single cited paragraph — instead of a list of links. Perplexity and Google AI Overviews are the textbook examples.
GEO·AEOAI Overview
Google AI Overviews is the AI-generated summary that appears above the standard results in Google Search — one of the most prominent zero-click surfaces today.
GEO·AEOGEO
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing content and data so that a brand gets cited and recommended inside generative AI search answers like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews.
GEO·AEOAI SEO
AI SEO is the umbrella label for SEO work in the AI search era — combining classic SEO with GEO, AEO and LLMO into a single workstream.
GEO·AEOConversational Search
Conversational search is the pattern where users refine a query through follow-up questions, treating search as a back-and-forth dialogue rather than a single shot.
How does your brand show up in AI answers?
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