Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about AI findability and how Clareo helps your business get recommended by AI.

AI Findability

What is AI findability and why does it matter for my business?

AI findability measures how easily AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity can find, understand, and recommend your business. Over 2 billion people already see AI-generated answers in Google, and 93% of users in Google's AI Mode never click a link. If AI engines don't know your business exists, you're invisible to a fast-growing share of your customers — and that share is only increasing.

What is GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)?

GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization — it's the practice of optimizing your online presence so that AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity can find, understand, and recommend your business. Think of it as the next evolution of SEO: while SEO targets traditional search engine rankings, GEO targets how AI engines describe and recommend you in conversational answers. Clareo is a GEO analysis tool — it measures your current AI visibility and shows you exactly what to improve.

How is AI findability different from traditional SEO?

Traditional SEO optimizes for Google's link-based search results — getting your website to rank higher in the blue links. AI findability (GEO) optimizes for how AI engines understand, remember, and recommend your business in conversational answers. The two are related but different: only 12% of URLs cited by ChatGPT rank in Google's top 10. Strong Google rankings alone don't guarantee AI visibility. You need both, and they require different strategies.

Which AI engines does Clareo test?

Clareo tests your visibility across three major AI engines: ChatGPT (OpenAI), Gemini (Google), and Perplexity AI. Each engine discovers businesses differently — Gemini draws heavily from Google Business Profile data, ChatGPT relies on its training knowledge plus web search, and Perplexity searches the web in real time and cites its sources. Testing all three gives you a complete picture of your AI visibility.

Why do different AI engines give different results for the same business?

Each AI engine has different data sources and update cycles. Gemini draws heavily from Google's own ecosystem (Business Profile, Maps, Knowledge Graph), so changes there show up quickly. Perplexity searches the web in real time, so improvements to your website and online presence appear within days. ChatGPT relies partly on training data with a knowledge cutoff date — meaning recent changes to your online presence may take months to be reflected. A low ChatGPT score doesn't mean you're doing poorly — it means ChatGPT hasn't absorbed your latest information yet.

How long does it take for improvements to show up in AI visibility?

It depends on the AI engine. Perplexity reflects changes almost immediately since it searches the web in real time. Gemini typically picks up changes within days to weeks, especially through Google Business Profile updates. ChatGPT is the slowest — it relies on periodic training updates, so changes can take 3-12 months to appear. The good news: improvements you make now for Gemini and Perplexity also build the foundation that ChatGPT will eventually absorb. The sooner you start, the sooner every engine catches up.

Why can my score vary between analyses done right after each other?

AI engines don't give identical answers every time — they're probabilistic, not deterministic. When you ask ChatGPT the same question twice, you may get slightly different wording, different business recommendations, or different ordering. This means your blind test results can fluctuate by a few points between runs. This is normal and expected. What matters is the trend over time, not any single score. That's why Clareo provides a score timeline so you can track your real trajectory.

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