Are AI answer engines replacing Google?

Not replacing - but significantly supplementing. Google remains dominant for many query types, particularly transactional searches. But for research and recommendation queries - 'who should I use for X?' - AI answer engines are now handling a growing and significant share. The two channels coexist, but businesses need to be visible in both.

Which AI answer engine matters most for B2B professional services?

ChatGPT has the highest user base and is therefore the most important single platform. Google AI Overviews is growing rapidly and particularly influential for research-oriented queries. Google AI Overviews matter enormously because they appear within Google Search itself, capturing users who haven't yet moved to standalone AI tools. We recommend optimising for all three.

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AI Answer Engines

AI answer engines are AI-powered tools that respond to user queries with generated answers rather than ranked lists of links - including ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Claude.

AI answer engines represent a fundamental shift in how people find information. Rather than presenting a ranked list of links and asking the user to evaluate them, AI answer engines synthesise information and provide a direct answer. For businesses that relied on search rankings to drive discovery, this shift changes the game: it's no longer about ranking high - it's about being included in the answer.

The major AI answer engines

The primary platforms are ChatGPT (OpenAI), Google AI Overviews, Google AI Overviews, and Claude (Anthropic). Each operates differently: Google AI Overviews actively searches the web before generating its answer; ChatGPT uses a combination of trained knowledge and optional web search; Google AI Overviews are integrated into search results; Claude uses trained knowledge with optional retrieval.

They are now a primary B2B research channel

94% of B2B buyers use AI tools in their research and purchasing process. For professional services - where buyers ask questions like 'which accountant is best for a growing business?' - AI answer engines have become the first stop, not Google. The shift is rapid and ongoing.

They reward entity clarity over keyword density

AI answer engines assess whether they can clearly describe a business - what it does, who it serves, what makes it different. This is entity clarity. Unlike search engines that reward keyword repetition, AI answer engines reward clear, specific, well-structured descriptions of a business's identity and expertise.

They are not a monolith

Optimising for AI answer engines requires understanding that each platform has different mechanisms. Google AI Overviews's retrieval-first approach rewards indexable, linkable content. ChatGPT's knowledge-based model rewards broader online presence and citations in reputable sources. Effective GEO addresses all major platforms.

What this means for your business

AireStream tests your business across all four major AI answer engines as part of every audit. We measure visibility on each platform separately and report on the gaps - because a business visible on Google AI Overviews but invisible on ChatGPT has a specific problem to address.

Frequently asked questions

Related terms

Generative Engine Optimisation(GEO)

Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is the practice of optimising a business's online presence so that AI-powered tools - such as ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews - recommend it in response to relevant queries.

GEO vs SEO

GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) are both disciplines for improving online discoverability, but they target different systems: GEO targets AI-generated answers, while SEO targets ranked search results.

AI Overviews

AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of Google search results, synthesising information from multiple sources to directly answer the user's query.

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