AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)
Also known as: Answer Engine Optimization
AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, is the practice of structuring content so AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews can extract and cite a direct answer to a user's question.
Updated July 20, 2026
In depth
AEO shifts the SEO target from ranked links to quoted passages. Winning AEO pages open with a 40-80 word direct answer, use the exact question as a heading, and back the claim with FAQPage, Speakable, and Article schema. AEO complements traditional SEO — it doesn't replace it.