Google's official advice and new research both say basic search work matters most for AI answers. Here is what to do this week.
AppWT Informative Multi-Lingual System
Google now has an official guide for showing up in its AI answers. New research on ChatGPT points the same way. Basic search work still matters most, and many special GEO tricks do not. This week, check your Google setup, match your pages to real customer questions, and earn mentions on other sites.
What Google now says
In May 2026, Google shared a new guide for site owners about its AI features. These include AI Overviews and AI Mode. AI Overviews are the short AI summaries at the top of some results. AI Mode is a chat style way to search. The guide asks if normal search best practices still matter. Google's answer is "In short, yes!" Its AI features are rooted in the same ranking and quality systems as regular Search, according to the current guide.
Google's AI features page says a page must be indexed and able to show with a snippet. Indexed means Google has stored the page in its list of web pages. A snippet is the short text under a result. That page says there are no extra technical requirements. The newer guide adds one point. A site must be included in generative AI features in Search Console, Google's free tool for site owners. The two pages word this a little differently, so check both.
Google also notes these points:
- AI Overviews only show when Google thinks they add value, so they often do not appear.
- Both features may use "query fan-out." This means the system runs many related searches behind the scenes to build one answer.
- Visits from AI features are counted in the Search Console Performance report, under the "Web" search type.
- Google says clicks from results with AI Overviews tend to be higher quality. People are more likely to spend more time on the site.
Google also says many "hacks" suggested under the names GEO and AEO are not effective for its Search. WordStream reports that llms.txt files, AI-specific rewrites and special schema markup do not appear in the guide as things Google uses. Google addressed these tactics as myths in its guidance.
What new research shows about ChatGPT
A new study tracked AI answers to business questions for 90 days, from June 24 to September 21, 2026. It covered 158,099 answers and 468,037 citations, as summarized by the AI Hospitality Alliance. Here is what the research paper found:
- Pages whose title and paragraphs match the questions people ask were cited more.
- FAQ blocks, structured data, summary boxes and page speed showed an effect only when comparing different websites. They did not show one between pages on the same site.
- Every page ChatGPT cited was one its own search found. Which pages that search found explained 32% of the difference, against 2.8% for page features.
- ChatGPT tends to name brands it already knows. Sometimes it names them without any supporting page.
The authors say these are associations, not proof of cause.
A separate survey of 45 studies on arXiv, a site for research papers, reached a similar view. It found that topic relevance is one of the most repeatable factors. Generic tricks often did not carry over from one setting to another. Rewrites aimed only at getting cited could even hurt how often a page was found. The survey also notes that AI answers can change from one run to the next.
Where sources disagree
Not every source agrees. An industry roundup from omnibound.ai says structured data and technical SEO are essential for AI visibility. It also repeats an "up to 40%" boost from a 2024 GEO paper. The arXiv survey says that 40% figure only held when a page was already in the AI's set of sources.
The same roundup cites Muck Rack data that 82% of AI citations come from earned media. That means mentions on other sites, not your own pages or ads. This fits the study summary's point that outside coverage can matter a great deal, especially for smaller brands.
Steps to take this week
- Verify your site in Search Console. Check that your key pages are indexed and that your site is included in generative AI features.
- Open the Performance report under "Web" to see your search traffic. It includes visits from AI features.
- Update your Google Business Profile. Google says it can help your services show in AI answers. If you sell products, Merchant Center feeds can help too.
- List the questions customers ask you most. Make sure your page titles and paragraphs answer them in plain words.
- Ask one question about each page: "Is this content that my visitors would find satisfying?" That is Google's own test.
- Look for honest mentions on other sites, like local news, trade groups or partner pages.
- Be careful with quick tricks. Google says many suggested hacks are not effective for its Search.
How I can help
If you want help with this work, I offer AI Visibility Optimization, starting price $2,497/mo. AppWT has built 600+ websites, by its own count. AppWT is based in Livonia, Michigan.
Have a question about anything here? Email me at sales@appwt.com or call (888) 565-0171, and I will answer it.
Sources
- A new resource for optimizing for generative AI in Google Search | Google Search Central Blog | Google for Developers, Google Search Central, 2026-05-15
- Google's Guide to Optimizing for Generative AI Features on Google Search | Google Search Central | Documentation | Google for Developers, Google Search Central, 2026-10-30
- AI Features and Your Website | Google Search Central | Documentation | Google for Developers, Google Search Central, 2026-10-02
- Google's AI Search Guidelines: What You Really Need to Know | WordStream, wordstream.com, 2026-07-13
- What Drives AI Citations? Content, Retrieval and Model Knowledge in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) | AI Hospitality Alliance Research, aihospitalityalliance.com, 2026-10-10
- What Drives AI Citations? Content, Retrieval and Model Knowledge in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), alphaxiv.org
- Optimizing Visibility in Generative Engines: A Critical Survey of Generative Engine Optimization (2023-2026), arXiv, 2026-07-15
- Generative Engine Optimization Statistics (2026): 60+ Data Points on AI Citations, Brand Visibility, and Content Performance, omnibound.ai, 2026-05-07
- AI Visibility Optimization at AppWT, AppWT
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special GEO work to show up in Google's AI answers?
Google says normal search best practices still matter, and specific optimization is not required. Its AI features use the same ranking and quality systems as regular Search.
What does my page need to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode?
The page must be indexed and able to show in Google Search with a snippet. Google's newer guide also says your site must be included in generative AI features in Search Console.
Do FAQ blocks or schema markup help ChatGPT cite my pages?
One 90-day study found these features showed an effect only when comparing different websites, not pages on the same site. Pages whose titles and paragraphs matched real questions were cited more.
Why does ChatGPT name some brands and not others?
The study found ChatGPT tends to name brands it already knows and prefers websites it knows. The authors note these findings are associations, not proof of cause.
Where can I see traffic from Google's AI features?
Google counts it in the Search Console Performance report, under the "Web" search type.
Enjoyed this article?
Share it with your network
