Is traditional SEO becoming less important with the rise of AEO?

[qwegle_pr]

I've noticed a growing percentage of traffic coming from AI-powered search experiences such as Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.
This raises a question:
Are we entering a phase where ranking #1 is no longer enough?
Some observations:

• AI systems often cite sources beyond the top search results.
  
• Brand mentions seem increasingly important.
  
• Structured content appears to perform better in AI-generated answers.
  
• Forums and community discussions are being referenced more frequently.
  
• Topical authority may matter more than backlinks alone.
  

For those actively testing AEO strategies:

1. What changes have you made compared to traditional SEO?
   
2. Are you seeing measurable traffic from AI search platforms?
   
3. What content formats seem to get cited most often?
   

Interested to hear what everyone is experiencing.

[kind]

Traditional SEO isn't becoming obsolete, but it is evolving.

[qwegle_pr]

Traditional SEO isn't becoming obsolete, but it is evolving.

I agree. Traditional SEO is still important, but search is clearly evolving toward AI-driven discovery, answer engines, and conversational experiences. Businesses that combine strong SEO fundamentals with AEO and AI-ready content will likely have an advantage in the coming years.
We've seen this shift firsthand while working on AI-powered solutions at Qwegle. As an affordable AI development company, we're focusing on helping businesses optimize for both traditional search and AI-driven platforms.
— Nitikesh Pattanayak, Founder, Qwegle