The digital marketing landscape is changing fast, and nothing is moving faster than AI.
Only a few years since ChatGPT hit the public sphere, and nothing is as it was—from content writing to data analysis and, perhaps most importantly, what gets you to the top of the pile.
How to rank on AI is a new question, with an evolving answer.
Here is what we know now :
- AI Mode has surpassed 100 million monthly active users since its launch in May 2025, and now reaches over 1.5 billion users monthly across more than 100 countries.
- AI Overviews appear in approximately 30% of all search queries in the U.S., predominantly for informational topics.
- Since March 2025, the frequency of AI Overviews has increased by 115%, indicating their growing presence in search results.
- Overall, AI Overviews have contributed to a 34.5% decrease in click-through rates for top-ranking pages on informational queries.
AI Mode hasn’t landed in Australia yet, but it will, which means the time to start pivoting is now.
Let’s look at how to rank in AI Overview, how to rank in AI Search Mode, what the differences are, and what changes we can see on the marketing horizon.
What is Google AI Mode?
Google search AI Mode is generative search, allowing you to ask more complex questions, and get simpler answers.
Unlike traditional search, which provides a list of links, AI Mode delivers a synthesised response at the top of the search results page, integrating information from various sources. This feature is powered by Google’s advanced Gemini 2.5 model.
Initially launched as an experimental feature in Google Labs, AI Mode has been rolled out to users in the United States, United Kingdom, and India.
It is accessible through the “AI Mode” tab in Google Search and the Google app. Users can interact with AI Mode via text, voice, or image inputs, allowing for a multimodal search experience.
So that’s what AI Mode Google is—but what does this mean for AI search engine ranking?
For one, unlike traditional optimised content, which involves creating accessible, indexable, and easy-to-understand content that will come out the same way it goes in, generative search will inevitably change the way your content appears.
Difference between AI Mode and AI Overviews:
Ranking in the AI Overview in Google SEO has been top of mind for a while now, but AI Mode, when introduced in Australia, will be a whole new ball game.
There are some key differences you should be aware of before AI Mode lands.
| Feature / Aspect | AI Mode | AI Overviews |
| Purpose | Provides interactive, detailed guidance and suggestions in real-time, often with step-by-step instructions. | Offers high-level summaries or insights on a topic, giving a broad understanding without deep interactivity. |
| Level of Detail | Deep and granular; can break down processes, explain reasoning, and provide examples. | Concise and summarised; focuses on key points, trends, or conclusions. |
| User Interaction | Designed for ongoing input and back-and-forth; can refine answers based on user queries. | Mostly one-way; user receives a snapshot overview rather than an interactive session. |
| Use Case | Best for tutorials, learning processes, complex problem-solving, or decision support. | Best for quick briefings, executive summaries, or initial research overviews. |
| Output Style | Step-by-step, explanatory, and often customised to user needs. | Concise, structured, and general; highlights key takeaways. |
| Examples | “How to set up a website step-by-step” or “Explain a complex concept in detail.” | “Summary of recent AI developments” or “Overview of market trends.” |
Navigating Google AI Mode SEO impact
As our use of AI, and the way we do research changes, SEO best practices are changing too.
AI Mode and AI Overviews change the way the user operates and, with the ability to receive an overall summary with just a click, they’re less likely to go trawling through blogs as a first option.
Optimising for AI Search is known as Generative Engine Optimisation, or GEO.
If SEO was about trying to create an inviting storefront, GEO is about trying to get a local tour guide to recommend you to tourists.
Some early data suggests that AI Mode and AI Overviews will take a blade to CTRs, but these features aren’t likely to impact revenue, because those who don’t click past the overview were unlikely purchasers anyway.
So, what does this mean for digital marketers? It means that focusing solely on traditional metrics like CTR may no longer suffice.
The alternative is making it into the AI Search and Mode results, which we can do through GEO—specifically structuring content to be easily digestible by AI models and ensuring it addresses specific user intents.
SEO strategies to adapt to Google AI Mode:
Of course, the number one question on everyone’s mind is; how to rank in Google AI Overviews, and in Google AI Mode.
A lot is changing, but an awful lot is staying the same. Google, and Google AI still prioritise useful, unique content that provides genuine value to the reader.
Google still ‘wants’ accessible content, coming from well-designed sites with intact backlinks.
Put people first with valuable, unique content
As ever, focus on what your visitors want. Make content that’s genuinely helpful, original, and satisfying.
AI Search is all about answering longer, more specific questions, so content that really digs into a topic will stand out.
The better your content serves people, the better it will do across Google Search, including classic results and AI-powered formats.
Since LLMs have become widespread, many content creators are relying on AI to generate content.
This can save a lot of time, but does AI content affect SEO rankings?
The good news is that, so far, utilising AI to generate content isn’t impacting rankings, as long as the output is closely managed.
Human intervention is still needed to make sure that the copy is useful, correct, and providing a unique point of view to the landscape.
Focus on high citation content formats
Certain content types are more likely to be cited by AI systems, which can increase your chances of being featured in AI Overviews.
This content includes :
- “Best” and “Top” Lists: Help AI make recommendations and comparisons.
- “Vs” Comparisons & How-to Guides: Aid AI in answering specific questions about choices or problem-solving.
- Product and Service Pages: Provide clear, factual descriptions for AI to explain your offerings.
- Data Studies and Research: Offer authoritative research and data, which AI platforms value for reference.
- Definitions and FAQs: Answer common questions that AI frequently references.
- Regularly update these types of content, as AI favours fresher content.
Perfect your primary touchpoints
- Optimise homepages, product pages, and key tools where AI traffic is likely to land.
- Make your value proposition clear in the first paragraph, and follow this with factual, easily understood descriptions—avoid industry-specific jargon.
- Include contact details and key business information for easy access by users.
Format for AI readability
To ensure your content gets noticed by AI, it needs to be easy to read and digest. Use hierarchical headings (H1, H2, H3) and bullet points to structure your content clearly. Write in simple, direct language with short paragraphs, making sure to answer common questions explicitly. Including specific facts and figures will help AI confidently quote your content.
Add schema markup
Make sure everything is clearly structured and easy to trawl—this includes FAQs and product information. If any part of your site isn’t accessible to AI, you’re going to miss out.
Offer a smooth page experience
Even great content can disappoint if your page is messy, slow, or hard to navigate. Make sure your site loads quickly, looks good on all devices, and makes it easy for visitors to find what they need. AI SEO ranking depends on having a clean, well-structured page.
Control how your content appears
Google lets you manage what shows up in search results, including AI formats. You can use tools like nosnippet, noindex, or max-snippet to control visibility. Just remember that stricter restrictions may limit how your content is featured.
How has Schema Markup increased in importance for AI Mode?
Schema Markup has always been important when you want to appear in Featured Snippets. Now, it’s important if you want AI to take notice.
AI will struggle to trawl convoluted blog structures, messy or vague headings, and unnatural thought processes.
Whichever way you look at it, structured data is the best way to get a bot’s attention.
By using Schema Markup, websites make it easier for AI systems to interpret content and display it in a way that directly answers user queries.
For example, when a business selling shoes uses structured data to markup key attributes—like size, colour, material, and reviews—the AI can instantly recognise and present this information.
This increases the likelihood of the content being chosen for these more prominent, AI-powered search results.
This kind of specificity (supported by clear structure) is also essential for law firms and healthcare clinics, who may find that giving detailed demographic information and clear examples in case studies, help the content land where it needs to.
In addition to improving your chances of appearing in AI Mode, Schema Markup can help your page stand out in
- Product Cards
- Review Snippets
- and FAQ snippets
all of which are also increasingly featured in AI-driven searches.
Ready to learn more from digital marketing experts?
We’re arriving in a new era of search, and not everyone is coming with us. If you want to make sure you’re ranking in the new world, AEK Media can help.
We’re an award-winning digital marketing agency specialising in creating digital marketing funnels that target the right customer, on the right channel with the right content.
If you’re wondering :
- How to rank for AI Overviews?
- How to get ahead of Google AI Mode SEO?
- Or, how to use AI to land in front of the right customer at the right time?
AEK Media can help. We operate across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and expanding internationally, AEK Media offers a full range of services, including SEO, PPC (Google Ads), Paid Social (Meta, Tik Tok), CRO, email marketing and web design for businesses of all sizes.
Tracking your visibility in AI can become unmanageable very quickly, but if you want to make sure you stay on top of the pile, even as the landscape changes, AEK Media has you covered.
From initial discovery sessions where we take the time to learn the ins-and-outs of your business, objectives and brand; to developing a custom-built strategy that maximises your growth potential, we’ll leverage our deep understanding of your brand identity to maximise your web presence, even in the rapidly changing field of AI Mode.
Contact us today for your free audit.
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