import { classify, obligations } from '@eu/ai-act'; // Regolamento (UE) 2024/1689import { classify, obligations } from '@eu/ai-act'; // Regolamento (UE) 2024/1689import { classify, obligations } from '@eu/ai-act'; // Regolamento (UE) 2024/1689import { classify, obligations } from '@eu/ai-act'; // Regolamento (UE) 2024/1689import { classify, obligations } from '@eu/ai-act'; // Regolamento (UE) 2024/1689import { classify, obligations } from '@eu/ai-act'; // Regolamento (UE) 2024/1689

const system = inventory.find((s) => s.name === 'chatbot-assistenza'); // art. 50: trasparenzaconst system = inventory.find((s) => s.name === 'chatbot-assistenza'); // art. 50: trasparenzaconst system = inventory.find((s) => s.name === 'chatbot-assistenza'); // art. 50: trasparenzaconst system = inventory.find((s) => s.name === 'chatbot-assistenza'); // art. 50: trasparenzaconst system = inventory.find((s) => s.name === 'chatbot-assistenza'); // art. 50: trasparenzaconst system = inventory.find((s) => s.name === 'chatbot-assistenza'); // art. 50: trasparenza

const role = system.provider === company ? 'fornitore' : 'utilizzatore'; // art. 3const role = system.provider === company ? 'fornitore' : 'utilizzatore'; // art. 3const role = system.provider === company ? 'fornitore' : 'utilizzatore'; // art. 3const role = system.provider === company ? 'fornitore' : 'utilizzatore'; // art. 3const role = system.provider === company ? 'fornitore' : 'utilizzatore'; // art. 3const role = system.provider === company ? 'fornitore' : 'utilizzatore'; // art. 3

if (risk === 'vietato') throw new Error('Pratica vietata dal 2 febbraio 2025');if (risk === 'vietato') throw new Error('Pratica vietata dal 2 febbraio 2025');if (risk === 'vietato') throw new Error('Pratica vietata dal 2 febbraio 2025');if (risk === 'vietato') throw new Error('Pratica vietata dal 2 febbraio 2025');if (risk === 'vietato') throw new Error('Pratica vietata dal 2 febbraio 2025');if (risk === 'vietato') throw new Error('Pratica vietata dal 2 febbraio 2025');

if (risk === 'alto') await obligations.highRisk(role, { from: '2027-12-02' });if (risk === 'alto') await obligations.highRisk(role, { from: '2027-12-02' });if (risk === 'alto') await obligations.highRisk(role, { from: '2027-12-02' });if (risk === 'alto') await obligations.highRisk(role, { from: '2027-12-02' });if (risk === 'alto') await obligations.highRisk(role, { from: '2027-12-02' });if (risk === 'alto') await obligations.highRisk(role, { from: '2027-12-02' });

await notice.show('Stai parlando con un assistente virtuale basato su AI');await notice.show('Stai parlando con un assistente virtuale basato su AI');await notice.show('Stai parlando con un assistente virtuale basato su AI');await notice.show('Stai parlando con un assistente virtuale basato su AI');await notice.show('Stai parlando con un assistente virtuale basato su AI');await notice.show('Stai parlando con un assistente virtuale basato su AI');

await training.log({ team: 'marketing', topic: 'alfabetizzazione AI', art: 4 });await training.log({ team: 'marketing', topic: 'alfabetizzazione AI', art: 4 });await training.log({ team: 'marketing', topic: 'alfabetizzazione AI', art: 4 });await training.log({ team: 'marketing', topic: 'alfabetizzazione AI', art: 4 });await training.log({ team: 'marketing', topic: 'alfabetizzazione AI', art: 4 });await training.log({ team: 'marketing', topic: 'alfabetizzazione AI', art: 4 });

const decision = await human.review(cv); // D.Lgs. 179/2026, art. 41const decision = await human.review(cv); // D.Lgs. 179/2026, art. 41const decision = await human.review(cv); // D.Lgs. 179/2026, art. 41const decision = await human.review(cv); // D.Lgs. 179/2026, art. 41const decision = await human.review(cv); // D.Lgs. 179/2026, art. 41const decision = await human.review(cv); // D.Lgs. 179/2026, art. 41

await workers.inform({ tool: system.name, legge: '132/2025', art: 11 });await workers.inform({ tool: system.name, legge: '132/2025', art: 11 });await workers.inform({ tool: system.name, legge: '132/2025', art: 11 });await workers.inform({ tool: system.name, legge: '132/2025', art: 11 });await workers.inform({ tool: system.name, legge: '132/2025', art: 11 });await workers.inform({ tool: system.name, legge: '132/2025', art: 11 });

const fine = Math.min(35_000_000, revenue * 0.07); // PMI: il più basso, art. 99const fine = Math.min(35_000_000, revenue * 0.07); // PMI: il più basso, art. 99const fine = Math.min(35_000_000, revenue * 0.07); // PMI: il più basso, art. 99const fine = Math.min(35_000_000, revenue * 0.07); // PMI: il più basso, art. 99const fine = Math.min(35_000_000, revenue * 0.07); // PMI: il più basso, art. 99const fine = Math.min(35_000_000, revenue * 0.07); // PMI: il più basso, art. 99

await dvr.add({ system: system.name, impatto: 'organizzazione del lavoro' }); // art. 42await dvr.add({ system: system.name, impatto: 'organizzazione del lavoro' }); // art. 42await dvr.add({ system: system.name, impatto: 'organizzazione del lavoro' }); // art. 42await dvr.add({ system: system.name, impatto: 'organizzazione del lavoro' }); // art. 42await dvr.add({ system: system.name, impatto: 'organizzazione del lavoro' }); // art. 42await dvr.add({ system: system.name, impatto: 'organizzazione del lavoro' }); // art. 42

await client.inform({ studio: true, strumenti: ['assistente di ricerca'] }); // art. 13await client.inform({ studio: true, strumenti: ['assistente di ricerca'] }); // art. 13await client.inform({ studio: true, strumenti: ['assistente di ricerca'] }); // art. 13await client.inform({ studio: true, strumenti: ['assistente di ricerca'] }); // art. 13await client.inform({ studio: true, strumenti: ['assistente di ricerca'] }); // art. 13await client.inform({ studio: true, strumenti: ['assistente di ricerca'] }); // art. 13

export default compliance.by({ design: true, deadline: '2027-12-02' });export default compliance.by({ design: true, deadline: '2027-12-02' });export default compliance.by({ design: true, deadline: '2027-12-02' });export default compliance.by({ design: true, deadline: '2027-12-02' });export default compliance.by({ design: true, deadline: '2027-12-02' });export default compliance.by({ design: true, deadline: '2027-12-02' });

import { classify, obligations } from '@eu/ai-act';                         // Regolamento (UE) 2024/1689
const system = inventory.find((s) => s.name === 'chatbot-assistenza');        // art. 50: trasparenza
const role = system.provider === company ? 'fornitore' : 'utilizzatore';      // art. 3
const risk = classify(system, { annexIII: true, profiling: false });          // art. 6
if (risk === 'vietato') throw new Error('Pratica vietata dal 2 febbraio 2025');
if (risk === 'alto') await obligations.highRisk(role, { from: '2027-12-02' });
await notice.show('Stai parlando con un assistente virtuale basato su AI');
await training.log({ team: 'marketing', topic: 'alfabetizzazione AI', art: 4 });
const decision = await human.review(cv);                                      // D.Lgs. 179/2026, art. 41
await workers.inform({ tool: system.name, legge: '132/2025', art: 11 });
const fine = Math.min(35_000_000, revenue * 0.07);                            // PMI: il più basso, art. 99
await dvr.add({ system: system.name, impatto: 'organizzazione del lavoro' }); // art. 42
await client.inform({ studio: true, strumenti: ['assistente di ricerca'] }); // art. 13
export default compliance.by({ design: true, deadline: '2027-12-02' });
import { classify, obligations } from '@eu/ai-act';                         // Regolamento (UE) 2024/1689
const system = inventory.find((s) => s.name === 'chatbot-assistenza');        // art. 50: trasparenza
const role = system.provider === company ? 'fornitore' : 'utilizzatore';      // art. 3
const risk = classify(system, { annexIII: true, profiling: false });          // art. 6
if (risk === 'vietato') throw new Error('Pratica vietata dal 2 febbraio 2025');
if (risk === 'alto') await obligations.highRisk(role, { from: '2027-12-02' });
await notice.show('Stai parlando con un assistente virtuale basato su AI');
await training.log({ team: 'marketing', topic: 'alfabetizzazione AI', art: 4 });
const decision = await human.review(cv);                                      // D.Lgs. 179/2026, art. 41
await workers.inform({ tool: system.name, legge: '132/2025', art: 11 });
const fine = Math.min(35_000_000, revenue * 0.07);                            // PMI: il più basso, art. 99
await dvr.add({ system: system.name, impatto: 'organizzazione del lavoro' }); // art. 42
await client.inform({ studio: true, strumenti: ['assistente di ricerca'] }); // art. 13
export default compliance.by({ design: true, deadline: '2027-12-02' });
import { classify, obligations } from '@eu/ai-act';                         // Regolamento (UE) 2024/1689
const system = inventory.find((s) => s.name === 'chatbot-assistenza');        // art. 50: trasparenza
const role = system.provider === company ? 'fornitore' : 'utilizzatore';      // art. 3
const risk = classify(system, { annexIII: true, profiling: false });          // art. 6
if (risk === 'vietato') throw new Error('Pratica vietata dal 2 febbraio 2025');
if (risk === 'alto') await obligations.highRisk(role, { from: '2027-12-02' });
await notice.show('Stai parlando con un assistente virtuale basato su AI');
await training.log({ team: 'marketing', topic: 'alfabetizzazione AI', art: 4 });
const decision = await human.review(cv);                                      // D.Lgs. 179/2026, art. 41
await workers.inform({ tool: system.name, legge: '132/2025', art: 11 });
const fine = Math.min(35_000_000, revenue * 0.07);                            // PMI: il più basso, art. 99
await dvr.add({ system: system.name, impatto: 'organizzazione del lavoro' }); // art. 42
await client.inform({ studio: true, strumenti: ['assistente di ricerca'] }); // art. 13
export default compliance.by({ design: true, deadline: '2027-12-02' });

AI Search

GEO:
how to get cited by ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Overviews

Generative engine optimization (GEO) is the work of getting your company's content found, used and cited in the answers of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Copilot and Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode. It does not replace SEO, it extends it: indexed and useful pages, AI search crawlers that are not blocked, direct answers, and data with a source and a date.

This guide brings together what Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity and Microsoft say in their own documentation today, what research has measured, 8 practical steps and how to track results.

By Cesare D'Adamo/Updated 9 November 2026/9 min read

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In this guide

01What is GEO and how is it different from SEO?
02Why GEO matters now: fewer clicks, more answers
03How ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity choose sources
04Which AI crawlers to block in robots.txt, and which not
05How to get cited by ChatGPT and AI Overviews: 8 steps
06How to measure visibility in AI answers
07Common GEO mistakes and myths
08Frequently asked questions

What is GEO and how is it different from SEO?

GEO is optimizing content for generative engines: systems that write an answer and cite a few sources instead of showing ten blue links. The term comes from the paper "GEO: Generative Engine Optimization" by Pranjal Aggarwal and colleagues, posted on arXiv in November 2023 and accepted at KDD 2024.

Aspect	Classic SEO	GEO
Goal	A high ranking and the click	Being used and cited in the answer
What gets picked	The whole page	A passage: a definition, a number, a list of steps
Who reads first	A person choosing a link	A model comparing several sources
Technical basics	Indexing, useful content, page experience	The same, plus access for AI search crawlers
Metrics	Position, impressions, CTR	Citations, visits from AI assistants, accuracy of what is said about you

The foundations are still SEO. Google says a page can appear as a link in AI Overviews or AI Mode if it is indexed and eligible to be shown with a snippet, and its documentation, updated on 10 December 2025, adds that no special structured data and no new AI files are needed.

Why GEO matters now: fewer clicks, more answers

It matters because people click classic results less when an AI answer appears, so being the cited source is worth more than being the fifth link. Pew Research Center (22 July 2025) analyzed 68,879 Google searches by 900 US adults in March 2025: 18% showed an AI summary, and behavior changed like this.

Clicked a link, no AI summary15%
Clicked a link, with AI summary8%
Clicked a link inside summary1%
Ended session, no AI summary16%
Ended session, with AI summary26%

Share of visits to Google results pages with and without an AI summary. United States, March 2025. Source: Pew Research Center, July 2025.

Google points the same way. On 28 October 2026, presenting third quarter results, Sundar Pichai said AI Mode queries are on average three times longer than traditional searches and that Google is moving toward one experience across AI Overviews, AI Mode and classic Search. In the same remarks the Gemini app is at one billion users.

The reach is international: AI Overviews came to Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and other European countries on 25 March 2025, and in October 2025 Google extended AI Mode to nearly 50 more countries and territories. For a SaaS company, questions like "which CRM for a B2B team of ten sellers" now often get a written answer. If you are in it, you are on the shortlist before the click.

How ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity choose sources

Most work the same way: they take the question, search an index, read the pages they find and write an answer that links some of them. Google calls the technique "query fan-out": AI Overviews and AI Mode split the question into subtopics and run several searches at once. If your site is not in that index, or its crawler is blocked, you cannot be cited.

01QuestionA long, specific prompt, often with context and constraints
02Fan-out searchesThe system splits the question into subtopics and searches
03Page retrievalIt reads only what its crawler could fetch and index
04SynthesisThe model writes the answer from the clearest passages
05CitationsIt links a few sources: your page is there or it is not

How a generative engine builds an answer with sources. Simplified from Google's documentation on AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Assistant	Sources	Crawler to allow	Where to measure
AI Overviews and AI Mode	Google Search index	Googlebot	Search Console, Web search type
Gemini app	Google index, through grounding	Googlebot, without blocking Google-Extended	Google Analytics 4, AI Assistant channel
ChatGPT search	OpenAI's search crawler	OAI-SearchBot	Google Analytics 4, AI Assistant channel
Claude	Anthropic's search index and user requested fetches	Claude-SearchBot and Claude-User	Google Analytics 4, AI Assistant channel
Perplexity	Perplexity's search crawler	PerplexityBot	Google Analytics 4, Source Group
Copilot and Bing	Bing index	Bingbot	Bing Webmaster Tools, AI Performance

Which AI crawlers to block in robots.txt, and which not

The rule is to separate training from search. You can block crawlers that collect content to train models without disappearing from answers; if you block search crawlers, those assistants cannot cite you. OpenAI and Perplexity say a robots.txt change takes about 24 hours to apply.

Crawler (user agent)	Owner	Used for	If you block it
OAI-SearchBot	OpenAI	ChatGPT search	You are not shown in ChatGPT search answers, at most as a navigational link
GPTBot	OpenAI	Model training	You are out of training; search is unaffected
ChatGPT-User	OpenAI	Visits a user asks for	robots.txt often does not apply
Claude-SearchBot	Anthropic	Claude's search index	You are not indexed and visibility may drop
Claude-User	Anthropic	Fetches when a user asks Claude	Claude cannot read your pages to answer
ClaudeBot	Anthropic	Model training	Future content is excluded from training
PerplexityBot	Perplexity	Perplexity results, not training	Perplexity cannot surface and link your site
Google-Extended	Google	Gemini training and grounding in Gemini Apps and Vertex AI	No effect on Google Search; out of Gemini grounding

Google works through Googlebot: for AI Overviews and AI Mode the usual controls apply (noindex, nosnippet, data-nosnippet, max-snippet), so limiting snippets also limits use in AI answers. Google-Extended, according to documentation updated on 30 October 2026, is not a ranking signal in Search.

How to get cited by ChatGPT and AI Overviews: 8 steps

01Check indexing in Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, and turn on IndexNow, which Bing recommends so that AI answers use the current version of your pages.
02Allow AI search crawlers from the table above, in robots.txt and in CDN rules: Google itself asks you to allow crawling at the hosting and CDN level too.
03Answer in the first sentence. Each section opens with the direct answer, in your customers' words, then the detail. A passage that stands on its own is easier to reuse.
04Add data with a source and a date. In the GEO study, adding statistics, short quotes from credible sources and source citations raised visibility in generated answers by roughly 30% to 40%.
05Structure the page with headings that are real questions, lists, tables and FAQs, as Microsoft recommends in the launch post of its AI Performance report (10 February 2026), with in-depth, current content.
06Use precise, consistent names for products, services, rules and places, on your site, in Google Business Profile, on Bing Places and in company profiles. Google and Microsoft both ask you to keep this data current.
07Structured data: consistent, not magic. Google says there is no special markup for AI features and that structured data must match the visible text.
08Be present beyond your site. In Pew's data (March 2025), Wikipedia, YouTube and Reddit together made up 15% of sources in Google's AI summaries: being present, with correct facts, where your category is discussed creates more chances to be cited.

For smaller companies the best news in the GEO study is about who starts lower. For sites ranked fifth among sources, citing sources raised visibility by 115%; for those ranked first the same method cut it by 30%. These are lab results, from an engine the researchers built on gpt-3.5-turbo and 200 queries on Perplexity: a direction, not a guarantee.

How to measure visibility in AI answers

You measure it by combining three free tools with a manual check, every month.

Google Search Console: traffic from AI Overviews and AI Mode is counted in the Performance report, Web search type, together with the rest. Watch the pages that answer long questions.
Bing Webmaster Tools, AI Performance report (public preview since 10 February 2026): total citations, cited pages, the queries the AI used to retrieve your content and citations per URL, across Copilot, AI summaries in Bing and select partners.
Google Analytics 4: since 13 May 2026 there is an AI Assistant channel for visits from ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and similar tools; AI Overviews and AI Mode stay out of it. Since 11 June 2026 the Source Group field also groups sources such as Perplexity.
Manual check: 20 or 30 real customer questions, tested every month in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot and AI Mode. Note whether you are cited, who is cited instead and whether what is said about you is correct.

Hand on a laptop with a blank screen on a desk — The manual check completes the data: official tools cover only some assistants. Photo by Lukas Blazek / Pexels

Tie these numbers to leads and revenue, not just visits. That is how GEO becomes part of a company's growth system: a set of questions that bring customers, a monthly measurement, and the uncited pages to update next.

Common GEO mistakes and myths

"You need an llms.txt file." It is a proposal by Jeremy Howard from 3 September 2024. It can help with technical documentation, but Google says its AI features need no new files, and none of the official documents cited here asks for it.
"More keywords, more citations." In the GEO study keyword stuffing brought no improvement, and on Perplexity it lowered visibility by about 10%.
"Block every AI bot and you are safe." You leave training, but you also leave the answers. Decide crawler by crawler.
"Publish a hundred AI-written articles." Volume does not replace data, sources and first-hand experience. If you publish AI-generated text in the EU, also check the AI Act's transparency rules.
"GEO is a separate project." It is the same work as SEO and content, with a few more checks, and it works best inside one AI transformation plan with shared priorities and metrics.

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Frequently asked questions

Does GEO replace SEO?

No. Google says a page must be indexed and eligible for a snippet to appear in AI Overviews and AI Mode, which are SEO basics. GEO adds access for other assistants' crawlers, more citable content and new metrics.

If I block GPTBot, do I disappear from ChatGPT?

No. According to OpenAI, GPTBot is for model training, while appearing in ChatGPT search depends on OAI-SearchBot. The settings are independent: you can block the first and allow the second.

How long does it take to get cited by ChatGPT or Gemini?

There is no guaranteed time. OpenAI and Perplexity say a robots.txt change takes about 24 hours to apply, then pages must be crawled and be useful for real questions. Measure monthly for at least a quarter.

How do I know if AI assistants cite my website?

For visits, use the AI Assistant channel in Google Analytics 4, live since 13 May 2026. For Copilot and Bing, use the AI Performance report in Bing Webmaster Tools. For the rest you need a regular manual check.

Do I need an llms.txt file for GEO?

It is not a requirement. Google says its AI features need no new files. If you publish one, treat it as an extra, not a replacement for the basics.

Does GEO work for a small local business?

Yes. In the GEO study the strongest gains went to sources that started lower. For a local business, an up to date Google Business Profile and Bing Places listing also matter, and Google and Microsoft both list them as good practice.

Sources

Sources checked on 9 November 2026.

About the author

Cesare D'Adamo

Product and AI strategy consultant

15+ years in product, growth and AI, more than 20 AI-powered products built, and executive teams trained on EU AI Act compliance. Works from Berlin with companies across Europe, in English and Italian.

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GEO:
how to get cited by ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Overviews

In this guide

What is GEO and how is it different from SEO?

Why GEO matters now: fewer clicks, more answers

How ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity choose sources

Which AI crawlers to block in robots.txt, and which not

How to get cited by ChatGPT and AI Overviews: 8 steps

How to measure visibility in AI answers

Common GEO mistakes and myths

Want to apply this to your company?

Frequently asked questions

Does GEO replace SEO?

If I block GPTBot, do I disappear from ChatGPT?

How long does it take to get cited by ChatGPT or Gemini?

How do I know if AI assistants cite my website?

Do I need an llms.txt file for GEO?

Does GEO work for a small local business?

Sources

Cesare D'Adamo

Related guides

All guides

/services/growth-systems

/services/ai-transformation

Let's put AI to work

GEO: how to get cited by ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Overviews

In this guide

What is GEO and how is it different from SEO?

Why GEO matters now: fewer clicks, more answers

How ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity choose sources

Which AI crawlers to block in robots.txt, and which not

How to get cited by ChatGPT and AI Overviews: 8 steps

How to measure visibility in AI answers

Common GEO mistakes and myths

Want to apply this to your company?

Frequently asked questions

Does GEO replace SEO?

If I block GPTBot, do I disappear from ChatGPT?

How long does it take to get cited by ChatGPT or Gemini?

How do I know if AI assistants cite my website?

Do I need an llms.txt file for GEO?

Does GEO work for a small local business?

Sources

Cesare D'Adamo

Related guides

All guides

/services/growth-systems

/services/ai-transformation

Let's put AI to work

GEO:
how to get cited by ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Overviews