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GEO vs SEO vs AI ads
SEO wins you a link, AI ads buy you a labeled slot, and GEO earns you the recommendation itself — the part customers actually trust.
| Approach | What it gets you |
|---|---|
| SEO | A ranked link in the list of results — you still have to win the click. |
| AI ads | A paid, labeled “Sponsored” slot beside the AI answer. Google now places ads in AI Overviews and AI Mode.1 |
| GEO | Your place inside the recommendation the AI actually gives. |
Two catches with ads. First, a sponsored slot sits next to the answer, not inside it — the recommendation customers trust is still earned. Second, in regulated fields it may not even be available: ChatGPT says it won’t run ads near health, politics, or mental-health topics.2
Paid and earned aren’t enemies — ads can buy short-term presence, but being the name AI recommends is the durable position.
More: What is GEO? · All Learn topics