A new report from Ann Smarty shows just how dramatically AI is reshaping the SEO landscape: 90% of businesses fear losing online visibility as AI-generated answers become more prominent.

The report highlights several clear shifts in how companies are responding:

• 49% prefer the label “SEO for AI”.
• 41% prefer GEO (Generative Engine Optimization).
• 85.7% are already investing – or plan to invest – in AI/LLM optimisation.
• 61.2% expect to increase SEO budgets to account for AI.
• 75.5% say their top priority is appearing inside AI-generated answers, even without a link.
• Only 14.3% prioritise being cited as a source.

And the biggest concern? “Not being able to get my business found online.”

As we’ve been saying: AI isn’t a total overhaul of search – it’s just the next pivot. The brands that adapt early, optimise for AI-led discovery, and stay consistent with their SEO fundamentals will be the ones that stay visible.

In other words: search is changing, not disappearing. And the businesses that change with it will be just fine.