Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has shaped digital visibility for decades. It helped organizations become discoverable through rankings, keywords, and links.
But discovery is changing.
When users interact with AI systems, they often receive answers directly. These answers are synthesized from multiple sources and framed as explanations, not lists.
In this environment, visibility is no longer only about where a page ranks. It is about whether an organization is clear and trustworthy enough to be referenced at all.
AI systems need to understand what an organization does, how it fits within a domain, and whether its information can be safely reused in an answer.
This requires clarity, consistency, and structure — not just optimization.
AI Search Optimization (AISO) addresses this gap. It focuses on structuring knowledge so AI systems can interpret, trust, and reference an organization correctly.
You can read a full definition of AISO here: AI Search Optimization (AISO).
SEO remains necessary. But in an AI-mediated world, it is no longer sufficient on its own.
Organizations that prepare for AI discovery early will shape how intelligent systems understand their category.