According to McKinsey, 50% of consumers now use AI-powered search, and more than 70% rely on it to ask questions and gather information. This shift in search behavior means SEO leaders must evolve. Modern workflows need to incorporate Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) strategies so brands can not only rank on page one of Google, but also gain visibility inside AI-generated answers across platforms like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.