GEO Basics
What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
Updated January 12, 2026GEO Expert Team
Summary
GEO is the practice of optimizing content so generative AI systems (AI search/answer engines) can find, understand, and cite it when producing answers. The term was formalized in research introducing GEO as a framework to improve visibility in generative engine responses.
Detailed Answer
GEO is the practice of optimizing content so generative AI systems (AI search/answer engines) can find, understand, and cite it when producing answers. The term was formalized in research introducing GEO as a framework to improve visibility in generative engine responses and evaluate strategies using benchmarks like GEO-bench.
Key aspects of GEO include:
- Making content easily extractable for AI systems
- Using structured data and clear formatting
- Building authority and trust signals
- Ensuring technical accessibility for AI crawlers
Unlike traditional SEO which focuses on search rankings and clicks, GEO optimizes for being selected as source material inside AI-generated answers.
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