Where does AEO come from?

The term predates the rise of LLMs: it described optimization for voice assistants and direct answers such as featured snippets. It was adopted for AI engines, which explains the varied usage across agencies and tools.

AEO or GEO: what is the difference?

In practice, AEO emphasizes the direct answer (question-and-answer format, snippets) and GEO presence in generative answers (citation, recommendation). No body settles it, and vendors do not use the acronym the same way. In its guide “From Discovery to Influence”, Microsoft reads AEO as Answer or Agentic Engine Optimization, meaning optimization for assistants and agents that retrieve, interpret and present an answer. Google mentions AEO and GEO in its May 15, 2026 guide to conclude that optimizing for generative search is still SEO.

What practices does AEO cover?

Direct answers at the top of sections, question-style headings, structured data consistent with visible content, complete pillar pages and clearly identified entities. These are classic SEO and GEO practices: the choice of acronym does not change the work.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to choose between AEO and GEO?

No. Pick the term clients or leadership understand, and document the actions performed.

Does AEO concern voice assistants?

Historically yes. The term is also used for AI engines.

Which acronym should I use in a contract?

Define the scope through actions and indicators (citations, share of voice, optimized pages) rather than through the acronym.

Related terms

Further reading

• Search Central Live Deep Dive Barcelona 2026: what Google said over the 3 days
• Google Search Central Live Paris recap: Google Is Betting big on Agentic Commerce
• Visibility on AI (Google mode AI, AI overviews, LLM) : the tools are lying to us ?
• How to optimize for Google AI Overviews
• ← Back to the GEO glossary (114 terms)

Sources

• Search Engine Journal, Microsoft’s Guide To Winning In AEO & GEO
• Practical Ecommerce, Bing’s AI Performance Report Gets Better