This episode is part of the AI Summary series covering the AI Search Manual chapter by chapter. Chapter 4 examines the new gatekeepers of discovery and how Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is reshaping visibility across platforms.

We break down Google’s dominance with AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Gemini, and how the Great Decoupling has changed the value exchange between publishers and search engines. The episode also explores how OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Perplexity, Anthropic’s Claude, and Microsoft’s Copilot each approach discovery differently, with their own strengths, limitations, and implications for brands.

The discussion compares AI-driven answers with traditional ranked search results, showing how visibility now depends on inclusion in summaries rather than position on a page. We also cover the difference between crawl-based discovery and API-based access, and why knowing how your content is being ingested by these systems is central to building a GEO strategy.

Read the full chapter at ipullrank.com/ai-search-manual.