Yes, SEO is still the foundation. AI answer engines draw heavily on the same content and authority signals that power classic search. Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode are built directly on top of its search index, so strong organic content often decides whether you are even eligible to be pulled into an AI answer.
What has changed is that ranking no longer captures the full value: Ahrefs’ analysis of 300,000 keywords found that the presence of an AI Overview was associated with a roughly 58% lower click-through rate for the top-ranking page as of late 2025. The practical conclusion: keep investing in SEO and add GEO on top, so you are found in search and cited in answers.
