Blog · SEO and AI search

AISEO + GEO weekly update what changed (and what to do next)

By Jim Chetwode · 20 July 2026

AISEO + GEO weekly update what changed (and what to do next)

Google is adding generative AI reporting in Search Console, CTR is shifting again, and local AI visibility is getting harder. Here’s what to do this week.

What changed this week (signals)

  1. Google is rolling out dedicated generative AI performance reporting in Search Console.
  2. Google repeated a key point: there are “no additional requirements” to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode.
  3. The visibility vs clicks gap continues to widen.
  4. Industry datasets keep pointing to material CTR drops when AI Overviews show.
  5. Local AI visibility is emerging as its own game (and it’s harder than ranking).

What it means (in practice)

  • AI visibility is becoming a new layer of search, not a replacement for SEO. SEO still earns you inclusion; AI features change how the answer is presented.
  • If your strategy still assumes a click, you’re behind. You need to measure recognition (mentions, inclusion, assisted conversions) alongside sessions.
  • “No special optimisations” is not permission to publish generic content. The content that gets quoted is typically clear, specific, well-structured, and backed by real proof.
  • Entity clarity matters more than ever. AI systems are making “recommendation decisions,” which depend on whether your business is a clearly understood entity.

What to do this week (client actions)

1) Measurement: set a weekly AI visibility baseline

  • In Search Console, review the generative AI performance reporting and export a weekly snapshot.
  • Track:

2) Entity understanding (so AI can describe you correctly)

  1. Strengthen your About + Team pages.
  2. Run a NAP audit (Name, Address, Phone).

3) Content usefulness (so you’re worth citing)

  1. Add proof blocks to key pages.
  2. Update your best evergreen pages with a short ‘What changed in 2026’ section.

4) Make pages “quotable” without gaming anything

  • Add a short definition near the top.
  • Use clear headings.
  • Include a short bullet summary (“Key takeaways”).
  • Use precise language and avoid vague claims.

A simple framework we’re using at Okapi & Co

  1. Earn inclusion (technical SEO + authority + helpfulness)
  2. Improve citation quality (structure + clarity + evidence)
  3. Measure recognition (AI impressions, brand search lift, assisted conversions)
  4. Build assets you own (email list, community, tools, templates)

Glossary (new / useful terms)

An okapi in dense jungle holding a phone with Google open
  • GAI performance reporting (Search Console): dedicated reporting for visibility inside generative AI features in Google Search.
  • Recognition metrics: non-click KPIs (brand search lift, direct traffic trend, assisted conversions) used when CTR is volatile.

If you want help applying this to your site

Okapi & Co can run a quick AI visibility check: we’ll test how AI tools describe your business, compare you with competitors, and give you a prioritised fix list.

Tagged: Guide, Update.

Jim Chetwode

Jim Chetwode

Founder, Okapi & Co · Shaftesbury, Dorset

Thirty years in digital marketing, now spent on how businesses get found in Google and cited by AI assistants. Chairman of the Shaftesbury and District Chamber of Commerce, Dorset Ambassador, and the person who runs the AI workshops.

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