Search Rewritten: Google AI Mode Forces a Rethink of SEO

What PK SEO announced

Sydney agency PK SEO says Australia is now live with an 'AI Mode' in search, a shift that replaces the classic list of blue links with AI-generated overviews pulled from a handful of authoritative sources. The agency frames this as a major change that could signal the end of traditional SEO as we know it.

How AI Mode presents results

Instead of presenting a ranked list of pages and forcing users to click through, AI Mode surfaces concise, generative summaries that combine information from multiple sites. These AI answer boxes aim to deliver immediate value to the user, reducing the need to visit individual pages for basic information.

Implications for traffic and visibility

If search engines increasingly serve answers directly on the results page, page-one rankings alone may no longer guarantee traffic. PK SEO warns that sites not included in the AI answer boxes risk becoming effectively invisible to searchers who get what they need from the summary itself.

Metrics can reveal early signs of this shift: impressions may remain stable while click-through rates fall. That pattern suggests users are seeing your presence but not clicking through because the AI summary already answered their query.

Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)

PK SEO is promoting a new concept they call Generative Engine Optimisation, or GEO. GEO focuses on positioning your brand and content so the generative model selects it as part of its summarized answers. That means the goal shifts from ranking pages to becoming a trusted source the AI will cite and use.

GEO emphasises trust signals: authoritative citations, deep and well-structured content, and topical connections across your niche. It moves SEO toward a content and credibility play rather than purely technical ranking tactics.

Practical steps to adapt

Audit your content for depth and relevance. Thin, generic pages that only cover basics are most at risk of losing visibility. Invest in long-form, evidence-backed content, clear citations, and formats that an AI can easily parse and reference.

Strengthen topical authority by linking across your site and collaborating with other reputable sources in your space. Build citations and signals that demonstrate expertise, accuracy, and trust.

Also rethink old habits: while keywords, meta tags and links still matter, they may no longer be the primary levers for being featured in generative summaries.

Monitor and iterate

Keep a close watch on analytics for changes in impressions versus clicks. If impressions stay high but clicks drop, treat that as a sign to pivot content strategy toward GEO principles.

Experiment with structured data, clearer authorship and sourcing, and content designed to answer common questions in depth. These moves increase the chances an AI will pull from your pages when composing a summary.

A global preview

Although Australia is among the first to see this rollout, the implications are global. Brands and marketers in other markets should treat this as an early preview of where search is headed and start planning how to be visible in the AI-driven layer of results.

Search is evolving from a list of links into an intelligence layer that prefers authoritative, well-cited sources. That creates opportunity for owners who adapt, and risk for those who wait.