OpenAI’s shift to CPC ads in ChatGPT turns it into a performance-driven channel, giving advertisers a new way to capture intent and measure ROI.

AEO metrics every marketer should track in 2026

Answer engine optimization (AEO) is a marketing strategy designed to help brands appear more consistently and accurately within AI-driven answer engines such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Copilot.

Google adds App Consent Insights to Google Ads, giving advertisers clearer visibility into how consent impacts app campaign performance.

Research shows that 32% of buyers discover new B2B vendors using generative AI chatbots. This is why an answer engine optimization (AEO) strategy for B2B businesses is essential. AI-driven answer engines help buyers discover, evaluate, and shortlist vendors. The same research found that buyers start with an average of 7.6 potential vendors and narrow this to 3.5 before making their final decision.

Struggling to make your brand visible in AI search as old SEO tactics fade? Learn a proven blueprint to earn citations, build authority, and grow AI visibility fast today.

Visibility now hinges on being chosen by AI, as authority, unique insights, and consistent signals determine which brands make the cut.

Google uses AI to qualify call leads, helping advertisers optimize for real conversions instead of call length.

GEO has found its place in the search landscape, and it’s reasonable to think that the future of generative engine optimization is guaranteed. According to Datos’s State of Search report, Q4-2025 saw some interesting changes. For the first time, AI tools had a consistent 1.31% to 1.34% of visits in the U.S. In previous quarters and reports, traffic to AI tools was growing. This stability in traffic suggests that AI search tools may have found their place in the wider search landscape.

Google clarifies election ads are exempt from placement rules but still follow Google Ads policies.

Video ads in the local pack could give advertisers a more engaging way to stand out in high-intent, location-based searches.