At the recent Google Search Live Deep Dive event, Gary Illyes of Google clarified that no special optimization techniques are needed to appear in Google’s AI Overviews. The key, he stated, is simply to adhere to “normal SEO” practices.
The report comes from Kenichi Suzuki, who attended the event and quoted Illyes directly on LinkedIn: “To get your content to appear in AI Overview, simply use normal SEO practices. You don’t need GEO, LLMO or anything else.”
While this information may seem obvious to seasoned professionals, the official confirmation was welcomed by the SEO community. As SEO consultant Glenn Gabe commented on X, “Yes, this is obvious for many, but glad he decided to say it.”
The core message for creators and marketers is to maintain their focus on fundamental SEO principles to gain visibility in these new AI-powered summaries. The question of whether these appearances will translate into website clicks, however, remains a separate topic of discussion.
Suzuki also provided a summary of other key insights from Illyes’s presentation:
- Search is Growing, and Gen Z are Power Users
Illyes revealed that, contrary to popular belief, users aged 18-24 (Gen Z) submit more search queries than any other age group. With over 5 trillion annual global searches, the platform’s user base is both growing and staying young.
- Search is Increasingly Visual and Interactive
Search methods are evolving. Google Lens has experienced 65% year-over-year growth, and one in five of the 100 billion visual searches this year had commercial intent. Additionally, the “Circle to Search” feature is now on over 250 million devices, with early adopters using it for 10% of their searches.
- AI is Fundamentally Reshaping Search
According to Illyes, AI Overviews represent one of the most significant changes to search in 20 years, resulting in users searching more often and reporting higher satisfaction. He also introduced “AI Mode,” an advanced feature for complex queries that require multi-step reasoning and deeper research.
- SEO is Evolving, Not Dying
Illyes humorously dismissed the recurring “Is SEO dead?” question, noting such claims have existed since 1997. He emphasized that the principles of creating helpful, reliable content are more critical than ever for success within new AI features, which he believes create more opportunities for creators rather than eliminating them.
