AI search. Reviewed October 29, 2026
AI search
Also called: Conversational search, LLM search
AI search is any search where an assistant such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini or Google's AI Mode writes the answer and names a few businesses or sources, instead of returning ten links.
In practice
The assistants pull from the same web, so a business that is easy to find and understand on Google is easier for them to name. They lean on pages that state facts plainly, on structured data, and on mentions from sites they already trust.
The traffic is still small next to Google, but it is growing every quarter and the visitors arrive already sold, because the assistant recommended you by name.
Related terms
- Generative engine optimizationGenerative engine optimization is the work of getting a business named or cited in answers written by AI assistants, through clear facts on its own site, structured data, and mentions on sites the assistants trust.
- AI citationAn AI citation is a link or named source inside an AI assistant's answer, and it is the AI-search equivalent of ranking on page one.
- AI OverviewsAI Overviews are the AI-written summaries Google shows at the top of some search results, with links to the pages it drew the answer from.
- AI ModeAI Mode is Google's chat-style search tab that answers in full sentences with cited sources, drawing on the same index and the same Business Profile data as regular Google search.
More ai search terms
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