The prevailing narrative around AI search has been one of existential threat. We’ve been told that as AI Overviews and AI Mode become the default, website traffic will inevitably decline, starved of the clicks that have fueled digital marketing for decades. However, this doomsday scenario is largely based on studies focused on informational queries—the “how-to” and “what-is” searches that AI is perfectly designed to answer directly. But what happens when the user’s intent shifts from learning to buying? A new study focused specifically on transactional queries reveals a much more optimistic picture. New user experience (UX) research focused on high-involvement services like finding a doctor or dentist shows that for transactional searches, AI Mode is not a traffic killer. In fact, it’s the opposite. When users are looking to make a purchase or book a service, they don’t want a single, definitive answer from an AI. They want a curated list of options to evaluate. This fundamental difference in user behavior means that your most valuable traffic—the users who are ready to pay you—is not going away. It’s just changing the rules of engagement. The End of ‘Winner-Takes-All’ SEO For years, the goal of SEO has been to secure the coveted #1 ranking, a position that historically captured the lion’s share of clicks and rewards. The new study demonstrates that AI Mode fundamentally breaks this model. When searching for services, an overwhelming 89% of users clicked on more than one business. They are not looking for a single recommendation; they are using the AI-generated results to build a consideration set. On average, users in the study checked 3.7 different businesses before making a decision. This represents a massive paradigm shift for marketing leaders. The obsessive, often resource-intensive pursuit of the top spot is no longer the only path to success. The new goal is to secure a position within the top three to five results—the consideration set. If you are in that group, you have a real chance to win the customer. This levels the playing field and creates new opportunities for brands that may have previously struggled to compete for the #1 rank.

The gap between AI adoption and business impact reveals a critical truth: while 80% of organizations have piloted generative AI and 40% report deployment, only 5% have reached meaningful scale. Yet this disconnect misses what's happening inside enterprises—SEO leaders are being asked to guide generative engine optimization, not because they're AI experts, but because SEO has always been fundamentally about empathy. The Three Layers of SEO Empathy Traditional SEO required two forms of empathy. First, understanding search engines—recognizing that Google's actual goal was maximizing queries and advertising revenue, not simply rewarding quality content. Second, understanding users—removing friction so they could accomplish their goals even when platform incentives weren't aligned with user needs. Generative engine optimization introduces a third layer: empathy for the growth-focused organizations building AI systems. Their incentives mirror Google's—maximum adoption, maximum engagement, maximum usage. Like search engines before them, AI platforms will prioritize these metrics over accuracy when necessary. This isn't cynicism. It's pattern recognition. Algorithms built on statistical patterns cannot distinguish exceptional content from mediocre content without external signals. The "create good content" advice was always incomplete—Google rewarded backlinks and algorithmic preferences. AI providers will follow similar patterns, using engagement and citation frequency as proxies for quality. Cross-Functional Collaboration Through Reframing The shift from SEO to GEO is already changing how enterprise teams collaborate. Functions that previously resisted coordination suddenly engage when the conversation moves from search optimization to generative engine visibility. Consider a practical example: a digital outreach initiative using consistent product descriptions across third-party sites to strengthen how AI systems interpret offerings. When framed as SEO, PR teams blocked the request. When repositioned as GEO strategy, those same teams immediately supported the initiative. The work remained identical—only the framing changed.

OpenAI has launched its first dedicated web browser, marking a significant expansion of the company's product ecosystem beyond conversational AI. Named Atlas, this browser integrates ChatGPT capabilities directly into the browsing experience, creating a unified environment where AI assistance is embedded throughout web navigation rather than accessed through separate applications or extensions. The launch represents OpenAI's strategic move to control more of the user experience around AI-assisted information discovery. Rather than relying on partnerships or browser extensions to deliver ChatGPT functionality, the company now offers a native browsing environment built around its language models. Platform Availability and Access Atlas is currently available exclusively for macOS users and can be downloaded directly from OpenAI's website. The initial Mac-only release follows a pattern common among technology companies testing new products with a controlled user base before broader platform expansion. Windows and Linux versions have not been announced, though such releases would be expected if the Mac version gains traction. The browser runs on Chromium architecture, as evidenced by its user agent string identifying as Chrome 141. This technical foundation means Atlas benefits from the same rendering engine, security updates, and web standards compliance that power Chrome, Edge, and other Chromium-based browsers. For web developers and SEO practitioners, this means existing optimization work for Chrome will translate directly to Atlas without requiring separate consideration. Integrated Search Functionality One notable aspect of Atlas is its search implementation. Despite being developed by OpenAI, the browser appears to leverage Google Search for its built-in search features rather than relying exclusively on ChatGPT's web browsing capabilities. This partnership or technical integration suggests OpenAI recognizes the value of established search infrastructure for certain query types, even as it builds AI-native discovery tools.

Ahrefs just rolled out a new public dashboard that tracks referral traffic from two big players: Google Search and ChatGPT. It shows how much traffic websites get from each, updated every month. The first look covers three full months and over 44,000 sites using Ahrefs’ free Web Analytics tool. Here’s the scoop on July stats: Google still brings in the vast majority of traffic at 41.9%, while ChatGPT trails with 0.19%. But the growth rates tell an exciting story! ChatGPT’s referral traffic jumped by 5.3% that month, compared to Google's 1.4%. While Google’s traffic remains dominant, ChatGPT is growing roughly 3.8 times faster than Google right now. Ahrefs emphasizes that ChatGPT is creating a whole new traffic channel that didn’t even exist two years ago. That means digital marketing teams and small businesses can start paying attention to this fresh source as it evolves. The tracker focuses on sites that stayed consistent across all months, so the growth numbers are reliable. However, bear in mind that some AI systems or browsers block referral info, which might cause some AI-driven visits, like from ChatGPT, to slip under the radar. Bottom line: Google Search still leads by a wide margin, but ChatGPT is carving out a place to bring visitors to websites. This new dashboard lets you keep an eye on both players over time so you can spot trends and adjust your strategies accordingly. Whether you're running a digital marketing agency or managing a small business, this tracker gives you a handy tool to monitor where your traffic comes from and figure out the impact of AI-powered search traffic. It's a fresh way to understand the evolving landscape of web traffic sources and where opportunities might be headed next. 🚀📊 Happy tracking and adapting!

Think SEO is no longer worth your time because of AI and social apps? Think again. With all the scary headlines and changing trends, it’s easy to feel lost. Here’s what’s actually happening and how you can keep delivering results for your clients and business. Let’s Clear the Air: SEO Isn’t Going Anywhere 🌍 Despite all the changes, SEO remains one of the best ways to connect with lots of folks online. Sure, AI-powered summaries now pop up at the top of search results, and it might feel like websites are losing traffic. But even as search gets smarter, people (and the tech they use) still rely on well-made web content. What’s Changing: Less Clicks, Higher Quality Traffic 📉➡️💎 - AI-generated answers appear in about 16% of US searches, up from earlier this year. - When these summaries show up, website clicks can drop by about a third. - Total search traffic fell by 21% over the past year. But here’s the plot twist: folks who do visit your site after seeing an AI summary are often ready to read more, take action, or sign up. They’re not just looking for quick info—they want the real deal. Everyone’s Creating with AI… But So Can You 🤖✏️ About three-quarters of new web content now use generative tools. That means the playing field is busier than ever. The trick isn’t to crank out more text; it’s to offer something people and algorithms both value: unique ideas, helpful resources, and relatable stories. Search Is Everywhere—Not Just on Google 🔎➡️📱 Gen Z and Millennials are searching differently. Nearly half of younger users (and over a third of Millennials) look on social apps like TikTok and Instagram instead of traditional search engines. People want: - Short, punchy videos over long articles - Authentic opinions and real-life experiences - Quick tips instead of big blocks of text But don’t count out Google—it's still responsible for almost 90% of global searches and drives way more visits than AI bots or other discovery channels. Build a Brand, Not Just Content 🏗️✨