As I discussed in my last blog, Google I/O 2025 had a slew of announcements that are challenging SEO strategies. If you have been paying attention to these updates, you may have heard the buzzword that has the SEO world talking AI Mode. So what exactly is it and what does it mean for your content and all those hard-won rankings?
What is AI Mode in Google Search?
In simple terms, AI mode is a new feature that Google has introduced that allows you to search using more of a chatbot conversation, like Chat GPT. At the moment, it’s an option within search, but it’s likely this will be introduced into main search in time. For now, users can navigate to it to chat through their search queries and have them summarised with suggestions, comparisons or even getting all the answers without having to visit any website. That changes the way users will use the traditional list of blue links within search, potentially eradicating the need for users to visits website altogether.
Why Should Our Clients Care about AI Mode?
We have been working on SEO strategies for years and have seen many changes, but this is potentially one of the biggest shake-ups for SEO since featured snippets.
Here’s why it matters:
- Less Clicking, More Skimming
AI Mode is designed to answer questions without needing to click through. That means your content needs to be AI-readable, not just human-readable. If your site isn’t structured well – Google is just going to skip past.
- Search Isn’t a List Anymore
The days of ranking #1 and calling it a win is gone. With AI Mode, your content might appear in a summary box, a comparison chart, or even as part of a generated plan. That’s good news for clients who might be ranking tenth for certain keywords. If the content is right, you may be able to jump straight up an AI mode answer.
- Zero-Click is the New Normal
AI Overviews have already led to a rise in zero-click search, but now Google is going all in. They’re keeping users on Google page and potentially meaning they don’t need to leave to get all the answers they need.
How Do You Optimise for AI Mode?
It’s the question everyone wants to know! Based on what we’ve seen so far (and what’s worked for our clients in early experiments), here’s how to prep your content for the AI-powered future:
Structure is everything
Use clear headers, short paragraphs, bullet points and schema markup are all important because AI loves well-structured content. The more “digestible” your info is, the more likely it’ll get pulled into an AI summary.
Answer questions directly
Content that answers specific queries with clarity, especially in the first 100 words, is more likely to be quoted or summarised AI style.
Include comparisons and pros/cons
AI Mode loves context, so if you sell a product or service, add comparison tables, checklists and quick pros and cons.
Double down on trust signals
Expert quotes, data sources, dates, and reviews all help. AI isn’t just looking for answers, it’s looking for credible ones.
Is This the End of Traditional SEO?
No, we’re not throwing out our SEO playbook quite yet. Since the advent of AI Overviews, we’ve been working on AI ready content for our clients. The fundamentals still matter including great content, smart keywords and technical SEO. But now we are looking more at how AI reads, interprets and selects content. It’s about making content the best, clearest and most helpful.
Want help getting your site AI Mode-ready? Get in touch. We’re already working behind the scenes to help brands stay ahead of the curve — and we’d love to do the same for you.
