Geostar: Pioneering Generative Engine Optimization as AI Reshapes Search
The digital landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, and the world of search is at the epicenter. Traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies are facing a significant challenge as AI chatbots and AI-powered search engines gain prominence. Gartner predicts a 25% decline in traditional search engine volume by 2026, signaling a critical need for businesses to adapt and evolve.
The Rise of AI and the Decline of Traditional SEO
The shift is undeniable. As Mack McConnell, co-founder of Geostar, observed, the way people discover information online has fundamentally changed. His parents, using ChatGPT to plan their activities at the Paris Olympics, highlighted how AI is now recommending businesses. This observation became the genesis of Geostar, a Pear VC-backed startup focused on helping businesses navigate this new reality. Princeton University researchers have found that optimizing for these new AI systems can increase visibility by up to 40%.
This fragmentation of search is creating chaos for businesses. Traditional SEO strategies that once focused on pleasing Google are no longer sufficient. Businesses now must optimize for multiple interfaces, including Google’s traditional search, AI Mode, Gemini, and AI Overviews, as well as platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. Cihan Tas, Geostar’s co-founder and CTO, emphasizes the urgency: “Anybody who’s not on this right now is losing out.”
Introducing GEO: The Future of Optimization
Geostar is betting on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) as the future. GEO represents a departure from traditional SEO, which focused primarily on keywords and backlinks. GEO requires understanding how large language models parse, understand, and synthesize information across the web. This includes understanding and implementing schema markup, which research shows increases the likelihood of appearing in AI-generated summaries by 36%.
Geostar’s Innovative Approach: Autonomous AI Agents
Geostar’s solution embodies the rise of autonomous AI agents. Their “ambient agents” embed directly into client websites, continuously optimizing content, technical configurations, and even creating new pages. This approach has yielded impressive results. For instance, RedSift, a cybersecurity company, saw a 27% increase in AI mentions within three months. Geostar’s agents can also create and optimize content, achieving first-page rankings on both Google and ChatGPT within days.
The Importance of Brand Mentions in the AI Era
In the age of AI, brand mentions without links are more valuable than ever. AI systems analyze vast amounts of text to understand sentiment and context. This means mentions on platforms like Reddit, in news articles, or across social media directly influence how AI systems recommend companies. However, this also creates new vulnerabilities. Research from the Indian Institute of Technology and Princeton found that AI systems show systematic bias toward third-party sources over brand-owned content.
The evolution of search is accelerating. As the industry adapts, companies like Brandlight, Profound, and Goodie are also entering the market. The SEO industry is worth approximately $80 billion globally. The stakes are high, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses, who risk becoming invisible in AI-mediated search.
As the landscape evolves, mastering this new paradigm isn’t just an opportunity — it’s an existential imperative. The businesses that win won’t be the ones that rank highest, but the ones AI chooses to recommend.
Source: VentureBeat
About the Author
