Now that the way we search is about to change drastically, an era where conventional SEO measures alone are insufficient has arrived.
Search experiences utilizing generative AI, such as Google's “AI Overview” and ChatGPT, are rapidly expanding, and a new initiative corresponding to this is “AIO Optimization (AI Optimization).”
In this article, I will explain what AIO countermeasures are in an easy-to-understand manner, and carefully introduce the differences, merits and demerits from SEO, and even points to keep in mind when actually implementing countermeasures.
This is a must-read content for those aiming to be a site of choice even in the AI era that is compatible with future search environments.
AIO is an abbreviation for “AI optimization (AI optimization),” and it is a measure to ensure that when ChatGPT, Google's AI, etc. automatically create answers using information on the web, the company's site is successfully quoted and correctly taken up.
Recently, answers created by AI are displayed on top of search results in the form of “AI Overview (summary by AI)” even in Google searches. It's slightly different from SEO (search engine optimization) up until now, and with AIO countermeasures,Create content that is easy for AI to readThat is the purpose.
Also, as a similar term, LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization) indicates optimization for large-scale AI models such as ChatGPT in AIO in particular.
It is also said that such AI will become the center of search and information gathering in the future, so it can be said that it is a measure that media and blog operators should be aware of as soon as possible.
Google's AI Overview, which has many users already using it as an AIO, summarizes and displays key points based on multiple sources of information on the internet.
There are many citations not only from one site, but also from sites with different purposes or multiple authoritative sites, all of which are indexed by Google.
When it comes to AI search, many people may think of Google's AI Overview, but in fact, there are many other AI search services.
[Examples of AI search services]
These services are common in that AI returns answers to user questions in sentences, but there are slight differences in usage, response style, and what kind of information they refer to.
For example, Perplexity clearly displays the source of the information, so it's suitable for research, and ChatGPT answers in a conversational format, so it's friendly even for beginners.
In the future, we will no longer be an age that relies only on Google, and the number of search tools used by users will increase steadily.
This also means that opportunities will expand for the media side that disseminates information. By preparing content that can be conveyed to any AI service in an easy-to-understand manner (AIO countermeasures), the possibility that your company's site will be quoted from various channels and become a trusted entity will increase.
Both SEO measures and AIO measures are measures for getting people to find them on the web, but their targets and purposes are very different.
SEO measures and AIO measures seem to be similar, and their roles and purposes are completely different. The purpose of SEO is to display the company's pages at the top of “search engines such as Google” and get users to click on them. Mainly, optimization of title tags and keywords, backlinks, page display speed, etc. are important factors.
Meanwhile, AIO countermeasures are aimed at “generative AI such as ChatGPT and Google's AI Overview, etc.,” and the goal is for AI to be quoted as an information source or appearing in sentences when AI creates answers. Therefore, the role is not to make people click, but rather the focus is on being understood and quoted by AI.
When it comes to SEO measures, it is very important to use the keywords to be searched appropriately.
The basic idea is to make search engines recognize that this page is related to that keyword by including a keyword with search volume in the title, headline, and text.
For example, it is a case where an article is structured around the keyword “diet method.”
On the other hand, in AIO countermeasures, rather than accurate keyword matching,Contextual consistency and accurate answers to questions are importantIt will be done.
Rather than the search keyword itself, AI reads search intent and background, and creates answers in a natural way. Therefore, rather than forcibly entering keywords in titles and headings, a structure such as “answering user questions simply and accurately” is more effective.
In other words, in AIO, it is important not only to be read by humans, but also to be “read by AI.”
Sites that rank high in SEO and sites cited by AIO (AI) don't necessarily match.
In fact, there are cases where the site displayed at number 1 in Google searches does not appear at all in AI Overview.
This is because evaluation on search algorithms (E-E-A-T, backlinks, mobile compatibility, etc.) affects SEO, but in AIO, factors such as “whether AI provides information required” and “whether it provides clear answers” are important.
Conversely, articles with long sentences and vague conclusions or mixed information may be ignored by AIO even if evaluated by SEO. From now on, I understand that “higher ranking in SEO = being quoted by AI” does not necessarily mean, and optimization from both sides is necessary.
AIO countermeasures (AI optimization) are attracting attention as having a major impact on future web customer attraction and brand recognition.
But on the other hand, just like traditional SEO, it also comes with a few challenges. Here, let's sort out the advantages that can be obtained by implementing AIO countermeasures and the disadvantages to be aware of.
By implementing AIO measures, this not only increases access, but also has the effect of widely appealing the expertise and reliability of companies and individuals.
Also, as the number of users of AI search increases, the fact that it can be used as an entry point for new information distribution is also a major advantage.
In future information dissemination, AIO measures have new possibilities to approach people that could not be reached by SEO alone.
Especially for media specialized in genres and industries, it will be a powerful means of conveying the company's value widely.
On the other hand, there are also issues with AIO countermeasures. First of all, as a major point, there are no clear rules on how to be reliably quoted by AI, similar to SEO. What information AI employs depends on algorithms, and it's a black box at the moment.
Also, there are many voices saying that it is difficult to accurately measure whether it has been quoted or not, and it is difficult to establish guidelines for improvement.
Furthermore, there is also a risk that AI citations will result in “zero-click searches” where users will not visit the website and will be satisfied with only AI answers. This can be said to be a loss from the viewpoint of traffic, so it is necessary to be aware of the balance of resources allocated to AIO countermeasures.
On the other hand, it is difficult to see the effects of AIO countermeasures, but there is also a possibility that they will build future advantages if tackled strategically.
AIO (AI optimization) countermeasures are a new method of information dissemination that is attracting attention amid drastic changes in search experiences.
In the future, as the spread of search services utilizing AI progresses, the key is how much of the company's information is trusted and used. Here, I will explain its purpose and future importance.
As mentioned above, the biggest purpose of AIO countermeasures is to have AI cite in-house content.
Generative AI such as Google's AI Overview, Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity extracts key points from reliable sources when answering user questions and creates sentences. If your company's information is used there, there is a high possibility that it will remain in the user's memory and trust, even if it is not clicked.
This seems like a big difference from SEO, but actuallyIt's important to create useful, satisfying, and unique contentThe essential part remains the same.
Even with AIO countermeasures, it is necessary to organize and provide content that accurately answers user questions in an easy-to-understand manner.
However, the big difference is that while SEO is optimized for “people,” AIO is conscious that “it can also be transmitted to AI.”
Until now, searches have mainly been keyword searches using characters, but in recent years they have diversified according to user needs and technology, such as voice searches, image searches, and video searches. And now, AI search is appearing as an extension of that trend.
In particular, the biggest characteristic of AI searches is the new experience where users can obtain answers in one shot when searching for something.
Even if you don't go back and forth between multiple sites in response to questions, AI compiles optimal answers, so user satisfaction also tends to be extremely high.
Due to this high level of convenience, the number of AI search users will increase further in the future, and it is expected that many people will start using not only conventional Google searches but also various AI search services.
In other words, if the search entrance changes, it is necessary for the information sender to respond to it. It can be said that AIO measures will be an essential foundation for attracting customers and expanding awareness in the future.
In order to achieve results with AIO countermeasures, it is not enough to simply create content.
In order for AI to correctly understand information and return appropriate answers to users, content structure, technical ingenuity, and readability are also important factors. Here, we will introduce specific measures to make it easier to actually be quoted by AI.
What is attracting attention as a new technical means to strengthen AIO countermeasures is the introduction of “LLMS.txt.”
This is a guide file for AI search engines to read web pages more efficiently and understand content, and it has a role similar to “robots.txt” and “sitemap.xml” in SEO.
LLMS.txt makes it possible to specify what information you want AI to read and which pages should be emphasized, improving crawlability (ease of reading by AI).
According to Google's John Mueller, although it is currently not essential, plug-ins such as “Yoast,” which is popular on WordPress, are already being supported, and there is a high possibility that it will become a standard countermeasure in the future. Early preparation will lead to future AIO display advantages.
The use of structured markup (schema) is very effective in making it easier for AI to understand information.
Above all, “question and answer” formats like the FAQ Schema are extremely easy for AI to process and increase the chances of being quoted. For example, “Q: What is ○○?” The question-and-answer format, such as “A: what is ○○ is...”, is structured so that users can easily understand it, and it is also easy for AI to extract.
There are an increasing number of cases where FAQ-style sentences are quoted as they are in Google's AI Overview, and there is a similar trend in AI such as ChatGPT and Perplexity.
Implementing a schema requires some technical settings, but in WordPress, etc., it can be easily handled with plug-ins. In particular, schemas such as FAQ, HowTo, and Product are directly linked to “ease of display” in AIO countermeasures, so let's actively adopt them.
Readability is also very important in order to be quoted by AI. In particular, simple and uncomplicated expressions are easier for AI to understand, and are easier to be quoted directly in search results.
This was effective as a “characteristic of sentences displayed in snippets (summaries)” even in conventional SEO measures, but there is the same trend in AIO.
Avoid prepositions that are too long or expressions that are abstract and vague, and respond to user questions
Let's be aware of it.
Also, it is effective to organize information using bullet points, tables, etc. Simple, logical sentences not only make them easier to be quoted by AI, but they also have the double advantage of being easier for readers to understand.
Technology that accurately and briefly conveys information will become increasingly important in future AIO countermeasures.
In order to be more likely to be quoted by AI as an AIO countermeasure, uniqueness and provision of primary information are very important.
Content that simply summarizes the same content as other sites will be less valuable as a “source of information” for AI, making it difficult to be quoted.
For example, by including information that only we have, such as questionnaire results, company know-how, local coverage reports, interviews, etc., AI recognizes “there is no other information” and is more likely to be adopted as a material for generating responses.
Also, such content is also likely to be highly praised in SEO, and there are cases where it leads to acquiring backlinks from other sites.
In other words, it can be expected to be effective in terms of both AIO countermeasures and SEO. Let's create with quality over quantity, and “content that cannot be written by other people (other companies)” rather than general-purpose information.
In AI searches, the latest trends and timely information tend to be prioritized. In particular, Google's AI Overview etc. try to extract “information needed now” for search queries, so there is a possibility that sites with only old information will be difficult to pick up.
Therefore, updating information regularly and covering newsworthy topics are also very effective as AIO countermeasures.
As an example, by creating headlines and text that are conscious of topicality, such as “2025 latest edition” and “October latest trends,” it will be easier for AI to recognize it as “new information.”
Also, since it is highly current, it is easy to be reflected in Google Discover and search indexes faster, and it can be expected that evaluations from search engines as a whole will also increase.
In order to be quoted by AI, not only the quality of the content alone, but also the reliability (authority) of the entire site is an important factor.
When AI collects and generates information, can this site be trusted? Evaluations are also being carried out from this point of view. In particular, in YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) fields such as healthcare, law, finance, etc., in addition to the accuracy of individual information, the operator's expertise and overall site reliability have a big impact.
Clarifying author information, company information, operator history, establishment of supervisors, and references from external media are effective in increasing authority.
Also, by specializing in specific genres, it is also possible to make AI learn “speaking of this field, this site”.
If AIO countermeasures are taken in the wrong direction, far from obtaining the desired results, there is a possibility that they will be counterproductive.
Here are some points to keep in mind when implementing AIO measures.
The first thing that is surprisingly easy to overlook when proceeding with AIO countermeasures is the crawler settings.
A crawler is a mechanism for search engines and AI to patrol a site and gather information. There are also sites that are set to block crawlers for security purposes and spam countermeasures, but care must be taken from the viewpoint of AIO countermeasures.
For example, if a crawler used by an AI search engine is mistakenly blocked, useful content created by AI will not be read by AI, and the chance to be quoted will be lost.
As for AIO countermeasures,
It's important to understand and properly manage robots.txt and firewall settings.
AIO and SEO work with different algorithms, but it is ideal to proceed with both in a well-balanced manner rather than taking measures against only one or the other.
SEO focuses on search rankings, and AIO emphasizes references to AI and ease of understanding, but there are also common measures for some of them.
An algorithm different from SEO works, but instead of taking measures against only one,
These are common measures that are effective for both SEO and AIO.
From now on, instead of thinking about SEO and AIO separately,Design as a combination (addition)That is required. Aim for a flexible site design that can handle both inflow routes.
Even if opportunities to be cited by AI increase due to AIO measures, this does not necessarily mean that it will lead to an increase in traffic on one's own site.
This is because the number of “zero-click search” cases where all key points are displayed in AI responses, and users are satisfied without visiting the site is increasing.
Therefore, there is a possibility that dictionary-type sites and QA style blogs centered on advertising revenue will be forced to drastically review their strategies.
Even if the number of accesses decreases, the reliability of information increases, and there is also an opportunity to switch to other revenue methods such as consulting and paid membership systems.
AIO countermeasures are not simply search measures, and it can also be said that it is a change in the times where the viewpoint of “flexibly redesigning how to deliver value on the web” is required.
What is said to be even more important in the future when considering AIO countermeasures is “voice search (VSO: voice search optimization).”
With the development of AI search, it is expected that users will have more opportunities not only to type characters on the keyboard, but also to ask questions by voice. In particular, in searches using smart speakers or smartphone voice assistants, questions are asked in more natural language, so countermeasures are required to respond to that.
Voice searches are expected to immediately return clear answers to questions, so it is important to speed up page loading speed and be aware of a structure where conclusions can be understood in one sentence.
One of the major issues with AIO countermeasures is the difficulty of measuring effectiveness. In the case of SEO, changes in search rankings, number of inflows, number of clicks, etc. can be visualized with Google Search Console and various analysis tools, but such indicators and tools are not yet sufficiently developed in AIO.
Therefore, the current situation is limited in how to accurately measure which pages were cited by AI and which measures were effective.
Also, since each AI has different display standards, it is also an issue that there is no unified evaluation axis.
It is expected that the development of tools will progress further in the future, but for the time being, a steady attitude of continuously improving while repeatedly testing hypotheses is required. It is important to view AIO as a long-term initiative.
A. Even without AIO measures, it is quite possible to be displayed high on the normal Google search rankings if conventional SEO is carried out properly. However, by taking AIO measures, it will be possible to support new display frames in search results.
A. Even if it is cited by AI due to AIO countermeasures, it does not necessarily mean that it will lead to an increase in visits to the site.
In particular, content in FAQ format and question and answer style is easy to be quoted because AI makes it easy to summarize information, but the full text is displayed, and there is also a risk that it will not be clicked.
A. Currently, if you have SEO knowledge and experience, you can fully apply it to AIO countermeasures.
AIO countermeasures are a field where they have just appeared, and there are many parts where there are no clear rules or guidelines, and it's like a black box, but the basic idea of SEO can be used as it is.
Since I started creating articles with AIO countermeasures in mind, I feel that there is a trend where content utilizing conclusion first structure and primary information is more likely to be displayed at the top of searches.
In particular, this trend seems to intensify when there are clear headlines and references to supporting information.
On the other hand, there were also cases where a sentence with an unintended context was picked up by AI searches, and I felt that there was a possibility that it might mislead users.
Therefore, I felt it was important to first establish a workflow to check the integrity of the entire article and whether the sources are reliable.
In addition to simply being aware of the structure preferred by AI, I feel that viewpoints such as “whether any part is cut out by AI makes sense” and “whether incorrect citations are not made” are required.
AIO countermeasures are essential measures for correctly delivering in-house content in the AI search era, which will expand more and more in the future.
Although there are still few established methods, there are many parts in common with SEO, and by working on it little by little after holding down the basics, it is possible to expand opportunities for future search exposure.
In particular, it will be easier to differentiate yourself from the competition by preparing content structures that are easily quoted by AI, ensuring uniqueness, and crawlability from now on.
Looking ahead to the future of search coexisting with AI, let's start taking AIO countermeasures little by little now.
