How AEO vs GEO reshapes AI-driven brand discovery in 2026

Recent analyses reveal a significant shift in search behavior driven by AI-generated summaries, with only 8% of users clicking on traditional search results after encountering AI Overviews, compared to 15% who did not see such summaries. This trend indicates that AI-driven content presentation is reducing user engagement with conventional links, as a quarter of users who view AI summaries end their sessions without further clicks, highlighting a potential challenge for brands relying on organic and paid search strategies. The proliferation of generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, which attract over 5.7 billion monthly visits, underscores the importance for brands to adapt