
Forget SEO.
Welcome to AEO (Agent Engine Optimisation).
I tested OpenAI Operator by asking to find a suitable apartment for rent in Zurich within a given budget.
Operator opened its browser.
It used Google Chrome, but it didn’t search on Google.
It searched on Bing (no surprise here, given Microsoft’s massive investment).
Then things got interesting.Instead of heading to Homegate or ImmoScout24 (specialised real estate platforms in Switzerland, owned by my employer), it went straight to comparis.ch AG, a general comparison site and my employer's competitor.
I noticed a similar pattern when searching for flights.
Rather than Skyscanner, it often defaults to Google Flights.
How can you make sure agents choose your website over competitors'?
Does it even matter?
Well, it does.
At the end of the process, which lasted about 10 minutes, Operator returned two links of two suitable apartments. I clicked on them and eventually interacted with the website myself.
💡You want to make sure those links bring to your website!
In a world where agents browse on behalf of humans, SEO and marketing strategies will need to evolve.
UI, UX, copywriting and SEO will have to shift from human-centric to agent-centric design. Remember, agents don't feel emotions! This changes everything.
Are marketers ready for this?