Google has just clarified its position regarding new AI-powered search features like AI Overviews and AI Mode. The message is unequivocal: no specific optimization is required.

The reason is simple but fundamental: AI has already been integrated into the search engine for a decade. It intervenes at every stage of the process, from crawling to indexing to ranking. AI Overviews use exactly the same technical infrastructure as traditional search.

Concretely, this means that the same crawler explores your pages, the same index stores them, and the same ranking systems evaluate them. There is no parallel path or separate system for AI results.

• No new ranking signals specific to AI Overviews
• Traditional SEO best practices remain fully effective
• No need to invest in distinct 'AEO' or 'GEO' strategies
• The technical infrastructure is identical for all types of results

This statement is consistent with what we're observing in the field since the rollout of AI Overviews. Sites well-optimized for traditional SEO naturally appear in these new features, without having modified their strategy.

Nevertheless, an important nuance deserves to be made: while the infrastructure remains the same, the selection criteria for AI Overviews seem to favor certain types of content. Structured, factual content with strong topical authority and clear answers appears more frequently. This is not a new optimization, but rather a stricter application of existing E-E-A-T criteria.

In practice, sites that were already succeeding in traditional SEO with expert, structured, and authoritative content are those performing in AI Overviews. This is therefore not a revolution, but a logical continuation.

• Don't create a separate 'AEO' or 'GEO' strategy – continue applying proven SEO best practices
• Strengthen your E-E-A-T signals – expertise, experience, authority, and trustworthiness are more important than ever
• Structure your content with structured data – schema.org, FAQ, HowTo to facilitate understanding
• Prioritize clarity and factuality – direct answers, verifiable information, cited sources
• Optimize your internal linking – strengthen thematic coherence and topical authority
• Keep your content up to date – freshness and accuracy remain essential criteria
• Ignore agencies offering 'GEO' as a distinct service – it's marketing without technical foundation
• Measure your presence in AI Overviews – track new metrics without fundamentally changing your approach

Practical conclusion: This clarification from Google should reassure you about the sustainability of your SEO investments. The efforts made to improve the quality, expertise, and structure of your content benefit your overall visibility.

However, rigorously applying these high-level SEO fundamentals requires in-depth expertise and constant monitoring. Implementing a solid E-E-A-T strategy, advanced technical optimization, and performance analysis often require specialized support to achieve measurable results. Working with SEO experts can allow you to significantly accelerate your presence in both traditional results and AI Overviews, with a personalized approach tailored to your industry.