The conversation around AI search optimisation has been getting louder. Terms like AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) have emerged as marketers try to adapt to AI-powered search experiences. But Google's latest official guidance delivers a surprisingly simple message:

For Google Search, AEO and GEO are not new disciplines — they are still SEO.

AI Search Didn't Replace SEO — It Extended It

Google's position is clear: AI features in Search are built on the same foundation as traditional search systems. They rely on existing indexing, ranking, and quality signals, combined with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to generate answers. In other words, AI search doesn't replace Google Search — it sits on top of it.

What Google Says You Don't Need to Do

A particularly important section of the update is Google's "mythbusting" list. You do not need:

• Special AI files like llms.txt
• AI-specific markup or new schema formats
• Content "chunking" for AI readability
• Rewriting content specifically for AI models
• Artificial mention-building strategies for AI visibility

What Actually Matters for AI Search Visibility

Instead of new optimisation tricks, Google reinforces familiar SEO fundamentals: high-quality original content, strong technical SEO, clear topical relevance, and authority and trust signals.