AI search is not coming—it’s already here. With Google launching AI Overviews, AI Mode, and platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity reshaping how people search and interact with content, traditional SEO is entering a new phase of disruption.
Recent research by Semrush, analyzing over 500 high-value topics, reveals that by 2028, AI search is expected to drive more website visitors than traditional search possibly even sooner if AI Mode becomes the default experience on Google.
For digital marketers, SEO experts, and forward-looking businesses like GrowingAI, this shift demands a complete rethink of how we create, structure, and distribute content.
Let’s break it down.
AI Search Is Set to Overtake Traditional SEO by 2028
The study reveals a bold insight: AI search could surpass traditional organic search in traffic volume by early 2028. If Google fully rolls out AI Mode as the default, this shift might happen even earlier.
AI search compresses the decision-making process. Instead of clicking through multiple sites, users receive summarized answers directly. That means fewer clicks, fewer visits, and less visibility—unless your content is cited in the AI answer itself.
In this new landscape, the winners will be brands and websites that are frequently cited by AI models, not just those who rank high in SERPs.
AI Search Visitors Convert 4.4x Better Than Traditional Visitors
Here’s the game-changer: AI search visitors are 4.4 times more valuable, according to Semrush. Why?
Because by the time a user lands on your site through an AI platform like ChatGPT or Google AI Mode, they’ve already gathered critical insights, weighed their options, and are often closer to a decision.
These users behave more like warm leads. They’re not casually browsing they’re ready to act.
AI Search Engines Cite Lower-Ranking Pages—and That’s a Big Deal
You’d expect AI models to only cite the top 3 Google results, right? Wrong.
ChatGPT and similar LLMs cite pages ranked 21+ in traditional SERPs nearly 90% of the time. Google’s AI Overviews also cite lower-ranking pages, especially when they deliver clear, specific, and well-structured content.
So, even if your blog post isn’t #1 on Google, it can still dominate AI answers if it’s relevant, well-formatted, and LLM-friendly.
Quora and Reddit Are Now Core SEO Platforms
Forget just optimizing for Google. The top-cited platforms in Google AI Overviews are:
- Quora
These platforms win because users frequently post highly specific questions and answers that AI tools love to cite. As a business, if you’re not active on these platforms, you’re invisible to AI engines even with great blog content.
This makes UGC marketing a key part of your AI SEO strategy.
50% of ChatGPT Links Point to Business or Service Websites
Yes, AI search still relies heavily on websites like yours but only if your content is optimized for AI citation. Half the links cited in ChatGPT-4o responses point to service businesses, showing clear potential to gain high-converting traffic if you give the AI what it needs.
That means structured content, defined headers, semantic phrases, and machine-readable formats.
How to Optimize Content for AI Search (LLMs)
To win citations from ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Perplexity, or Claude, you must:
- Use proper heading structure (H1-H3)
- Write short, focused paragraphs
- Include FAQs, lists, and tables
- Put key information at the top
- Use semantic cues like “in summary” or “step 1”
- Maintain consistent brand messaging
- Place brand mentions where LLMs scrape data
- Use structured data and schema markup
Bonus Strategy: Launch an AIO/GEO Content Program
You’re no longer just optimizing for search engines—now you must optimize for generative engines. This is where AIO (AI Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) come in.
Start building content that:
- Answers specific, niche queries
- Lives across multiple platforms (Quora, YouTube, Reddit)
- Uses schema markup for easy parsing
- Is semantically rich and machine-readable
This makes your content reference-worthy, easy to quote, and highly visible in AI searches.
The Future Is Now: Act Before You’re Invisible
If you wait until 2027 to adapt, it may be too late. Early movers will dominate AI citations, secure long-term visibility, and convert higher-value visitors.
Here’s your action plan:
- Audit your content: Is it LLM-friendly?
- Repurpose for UGC platforms: Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn
- Add structured data: Schema, FAQs, tables
- Build citation-worthy assets: Guides, use cases, answers
- Track AI visibility: Use Semrush AI Toolkit or custom prompts
FAQs
No, but it changes how SEO works. Now it’s about citations, structure, and LLM-readability.
Because users from AI platforms are more informed and ready to convert.
Create structured, specific content and publish it across web, Reddit, and Quora.
Yes, but AI tools often cite lower-ranked pages if they’re more relevant or better formatted.
AIO = AI Optimization; GEO = Generative Engine Optimization. Both focus on optimizing for AI-driven search engines.
