The rise of AI-powered search features such as Google’s AI Overviews has raised critical questions for marketers, SEOs, and content creators. As search engines continue to evolve—integrating large language models (LLMs) and generative AI into the search experience—many in the industry have been asking: Does traditional SEO still matter? Do we need to optimize differently for AI results?
According to Google’s recent statements, the answer is both simple and reassuring: yes, traditional SEO still works—and no, you don’t need any special new tags, tools, or formats to rank in AI Overviews.
In this guide, we break down what Google has said about how AI Overviews work, how content is selected for inclusion, and what strategies site owners can continue using to stay visible in this next era of search.
What Are Google’s AI Overviews?
AI Overviews, formerly known as the “Search Generative Experience” (SGE), are part of Google’s broader push to integrate generative AI into search results. These overviews appear at the top of the search engine results page (SERP), offering a synthesized answer drawn from various web sources, often accompanied by citations and links.
Rather than simply listing blue links, AI Overviews attempt to provide a cohesive, natural-language response to a user’s query, especially for complex questions that require a more detailed explanation.
For example, instead of listing five different blog posts about “how to train for a marathon,” an AI Overview might compile steps from several of those sources into one concise paragraph, with references to the original websites.
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Contact Us NowThe Big Question: Does SEO Still Matter?
As AI-generated answers become more prominent in SERPs, the SEO community has raised concerns. Chief among them: Will traditional SEO practices still help content appear in AI-generated results?
Google has responded clearly on several occasions: yes, regular SEO best practices are still valid and effective for ranking in the AI Overview.
During a recent discussion on Google’s “Search Off the Record” podcast, Google Search Liaison Danny Sullivan stated:
“The best thing you can do is the same things you’ve always been doing with SEO. There’s nothing special or different that you need to do.”
This reinforces what many SEOs suspected: AI Overviews rely on the same underlying ranking systems that power Google’s traditional search results. In other words, Google’s AI looks at authoritative, relevant, and high-quality content, just like it always has.
You Don’t Need AEO or GEO Optimization
Some marketers speculated that they would need new forms of optimization, like:
- AEO: AI Engine Optimization
- GEO: Generative Engine Optimization
But Google has debunked the need for these approaches. Sullivan clarified:
“You don’t need AEO. You don’t need GEO. You don’t need new terms.”
Google’s AI Overviews are not using a separate index or model from regular search. They’re tapping into the same web documents and ranking systems already in place. If your content ranks well organically, there’s a strong chance it could be surfaced in an AI Overview—especially if it’s comprehensive, accurate, and helpful.
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Contact Us NowWhat about the robots.txt or LLMs.txt?
Proposed standards, such as LLMs.txt, a proposed file (similar to robots.txt) that would allow webmasters to control how their content is used by large language models. This is another point of confusion in the SEO world.
According to Google’s official statement, LLMs.txt will not be used as a signal. Instead, the standard method for controlling how content is crawled or indexed remains the same: robots.txt and meta tags such as noindex.
Your best bet is to disallow crawling by Googlebot using existing protocols if you don’t want your content used by Google’s AI Overviews or other AI models.
How Does Google Select Sources for AI Overviews?
Google has emphasized that AI Overviews are not generated from a massive static LLM like ChatGPT. Instead, they are built in real-time using fresh, web-based content and Google’s ranking systems. The model pulls from the most relevant, helpful, and authoritative content available for a particular query.
This means that the same principles of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) still apply when it comes to AI-generated results.
To be featured in an AI Overview, your content should:
- Answer user questions directly and clearly
- Be well-structured and easy to understand
- Be published on authoritative domains
- Use proper headings and schema markup
- Have solid backlinks and user engagement signals
Google also uses citation links to give credit to the sources included in the AI Overview, which can drive traffic back to your site, though perhaps not as much as traditional blue links.
SEO Best Practices That Still Matter
Here are some proven SEO strategies that will continue to help your content appear in both traditional and AI-driven search experiences:
1. Keyword Research and Intent Matching
Even in AI-generated summaries, content must align with search intent. Ensure your topics align with what users are truly asking and structure your articles to meet those needs.
2. Clear, Concise Answers
Since AI Overviews aim to deliver fast answers, having well-formatted content with succinct summaries, FAQs, and definitions increases your chances of being cited.
3. Use Structured Data (Schema Markup)
While not required, schema helps Google better understand your content and may improve your visibility in AI and rich results.
4. Publish Authoritative, Trustworthy Content
Google’s ranking system still values credibility. Include author bios, cite reliable sources, and avoid clickbait or misleading claims.
5. Mobile-Friendly and Fast-Loading Pages
AI Overviews may surface mobile content just as easily as desktop. Ensure your site is technically sound and optimized for all devices.
6. Fresh and Updated Content
AI Overviews use real-time data. Keep your content up to date, especially for topics that evolve frequently.
Will Traffic Drop Due to AI Overviews?
This is a valid concern for many webmasters. If Google is providing a full summary at the top of the page, why would users scroll down and click your link?
The good news is that AI Overviews typically include citations and links to sources. Google has emphasized its commitment to driving traffic to publishers rather than replacing them entirely with AI output.
However, it’s realistic to expect that click-through rates (CTR) could be impacted in some cases, especially for simple queries with direct answers. That said, for more nuanced, complex, or transactional queries, users may still want to dive deeper into your full article.
Final Thoughts: Keep Doing Good SEO
The bottom line is clear: you don’t need to overhaul your SEO strategy for AI. Google’s AI Overviews rely on the same signals and ranking infrastructure as regular search results.
While the presentation of search is changing, the fundamentals of SEO—valuable content, relevance, and user experience—remain the foundation of visibility. You’re well-positioned for success in both traditional search and the age of AI, if you’re already following best practices, optimizing for helpfulness, and building trustworthy content.
Rather than chase new acronyms or worry about hidden algorithms, focus on what you’ve always done best: create great content for real users. Google—and its AI—will take notice.
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Dreamit Real Solutions combines creative design and smart digital strategies to build strong online presences, attract the right audience, and deliver real results. Let’s bring your vision to life — contact us today.
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