AI coding glossary
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)
Also known as: answer engine optimization
In one sentence
The practice of optimizing content so AI answer engines (Google AI Overview, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini) cite it directly in their responses.
Full definition
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the 2026 evolution of SEO for AI-generated answers. Where SEO ranks pages in blue links, AEO gets pages cited inside AI Overview, ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Claude.ai, and Gemini answers. The winning pattern in 2026: a 40-80 word direct answer immediately below the H1, single-intent pages (definitional, process, comparative, decision, never blended), Article + FAQPage + Organization schema with verified authorship, entity consistency, and freshness signals via dateModified. 70% of organizations believe AEO will significantly impact their digital strategy within 1-3 years; only 20% have implemented it.