More and more people no longer ask Google, but ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini: “What is a good [restaurant / heating engineer / law firm] nearby?” The AI then names a few businesses. Is yours among them? This is not a future scenario, it is happening now, every day. And it is measurable. AI visibility has become just as important as a good position in Google.
What is AI visibility, and what is answer engine optimization?
AI visibility is how well AI systems know, understand and name your business in their answers. You will also see it called GEO (generative engine optimization) or answer engine optimization. Where SEO is about positions in the search results, this is about citations: are you named as a source or a recommendation?
How do AI systems choose who to recommend?
| AI | Leans on | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Web search plus its own crawler | Being properly crawlable (for Bing and OAI-SearchBot too) improves the chance ChatGPT finds you |
| Copilot | Bing | Built into Windows and Office as standard, same source |
| Gemini and AI overviews | Your Google position carries through into AI answers | |
| Perplexity | Own index plus the web | Quotes sources literally, with name and link |
Full explanation per platform: SEO and AI explained.
Many companies ignore Bing entirely. That is a quiet opportunity, because Bing is exactly where ChatGPT and Copilot look. Beyond that, AI systems like clarity: structured data (Schema.org), consistent company details, FAQs with direct answers. The good news: SEO and AI visibility overlap a great deal. Getting the foundation right wins on both boards.
Improving your AI visibility: what I do
- The real AI test (part of the free Visibility Scan): I ask ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini about your line of work and then measure whether, and how, they name you and your competitors.
- The foundation: landing pages with clear answers, an FAQ structure, Schema.org, llms.txt, consistent details, Bing Webmaster Tools.
- Follow-up measurement after 3 months: the AI test again, so you can see what changed.
An honest caveat: AI answers vary by day and by question, so nobody can “guarantee” a mention. What can be done: structurally improve the chance that AI systems know you and represent you correctly. That is exactly what I measure.
Frequently asked questions about AI visibility
How do I get into ChatGPT?
ChatGPT searches through Bing and leans on what the web says about you. A technically tidy site, clear copy, Schema.org and a presence in Bing considerably improve the chance of being mentioned.
Is AI visibility something different from SEO?
Partly. The foundation overlaps, but it puts weight on things many companies skip: Bing, structured data, FAQs with direct answers and consistent company information.
Can I test what AI systems say about my business right now?
Yes, that is part of my free Visibility Scan. You literally get to see what ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini answer to questions about your line of work.