The short answer: Yes – but there is no magic switch.
More people are asking complete questions directly in AI-powered search environments. Instead of typing “SEO agency Vienna”, somebody might ask: “Who can help a small company in Vienna improve its visibility on Google?”
Search behaviour changes. The foundations of visibility do not suddenly disappear.
Can my website appear in ChatGPT Search?
OpenAI explains in its information for publishers and developers that public websites can appear in ChatGPT Search.
One important technical element is OAI-SearchBot. If this crawler is blocked through robots.txt, that can affect whether public content can be discovered for ChatGPT Search. OAI-SearchBot should not be confused with GPTBot; they have different purposes and controls.
That does not mean: “Crawler allowed = ChatGPT recommends me.” SEO would be wonderfully easy if it worked that way. It simply means: If you want to be discovered, do not accidentally lock the door.
Do I now need SEO, GEO, AEO and twelve new acronyms?
Marketing loves acronyms: SEO, AEO, GEO, AI SEO.
Google's guidance is refreshingly less dramatic. Its documentation says that traditional SEO foundations continue to matter:
- clean technical structure
- helpful content
- crawlable pages
- clear internal links
- good user experience
- unambiguous information
Google also states that its generative search experiences do not require a special llms.txt file. Such a file can exist, but it is neither a Google ranking factor nor an entry ticket.
What can actually be optimized?
1. Clear answers
If a business offers a service, the website should say so clearly. Not: “We create holistic synergies for digital excellence.” Instead: “I build websites and provide SEO optimization for businesses in Vienna.”
Machines appreciate clarity. Humans do too.
2. Clear expertise
Who wrote the content? What experience do they have? What services do they provide? Where are they based?
These details should not be spread across seven pages and hidden behind creative metaphors.
3. Structured data
Schema.org and JSON-LD can help technically describe content, for example Person, Service, Article and Organization.
Structured data is not a ranking magic wand. Think of it as a well-labelled folder.
4. Crawlable HTML
If important content only appears after several JavaScript requests, we make life unnecessarily difficult for crawlers. For this type of website I prefer prerendered or server-generated HTML.
These foundations sit at the centre of my AI Search optimization service in Vienna and ordinary SEO work.
5. Content with something new to say
AI systems probably do not need article number 4,931 explaining “SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.” More useful content includes real experience, specific examples, original data, local knowledge and clear recommendations.
What about Bing and Copilot?
Bing recommends IndexNow to notify participating search engines when URLs are created, updated or removed. It guarantees neither crawling nor visibility. It can make changes easier to discover.
What does AI Search mean for a Vienna business?
For a local business, optimization starts with real customer questions rather than a new acronym. A law firm should explain which matters it handles, who its advice is for and what happens during an initial consultation. A plumber needs precise information about services, coverage area, availability and emergencies. These details help prospective customers while giving search systems reliable context.
The next step is technical: Can important service pages be indexed? Does the server deliver complete HTML? Are canonical tags, sitemaps and internal links correct? Can Google, Bing and OAI-SearchBot access the public content? Do structured data describe the business, author and articles accurately? Additional publishing only makes sense once that foundation works.
Local evidence also matters when attracting new customers. Mention Vienna or individual districts only where the business genuinely operates. Publish verifiable services, relevant experience, common questions and an obvious next step. Repeating “AI SEO Vienna” twenty times creates neither trust nor distinctive value.
A useful AI Search review therefore combines crawling checks, conventional search data and editorial judgement. It cannot guarantee that an AI product will mention a company. It can produce something more defensible: a website whose offer is easier to discover, understand and evaluate as a potential answer.
Conclusion
AI Search Optimization is not a replacement for SEO. It is an evolution of it.
A strong website should be understandable to three audiences: people, traditional search engines and AI-powered search systems.
Waiting for a secret “GEO hack” instead is likely to involve quite a lot of waiting. If you would rather build a sound foundation, let's discuss your project.