Frequently Asked Questions

SEO optimizes for link-based search results and getting your pages to rank near the top of a list. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) optimizes for how your brand is represented in the synthesized narrative that AI engines produce. When someone asks ChatGPT or Perplexity about your category, GEO determines whether you appear in that paragraph, what is said, and whether it is accurate. The two disciplines complement each other but require different signals and strategies.

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) focuses specifically on getting AI systems to extract and present your brand's information as a direct, accurate answer to specific questions. GEO is about your brand's overall presence in AI-generated narratives. AEO is about whether AI can reliably answer "What does [Brand] do?" or "How does [Brand] compare to X?" with accurate, on-brand detail. Both matter. GEO gets you into the conversation, and AEO ensures you are represented accurately when you are there.

AI engines use a fundamentally different process from traditional search. Instead of ranking a list of links, they synthesize a response from their training data and live retrieval systems. A brand can rank on page one of Google and still be invisible in AI-generated responses, or worse, be represented inaccurately. AI visibility depends on source authority, content structure, and entity clarity, not keyword placement or backlink volume.

SurfaceGX queries multiple AI providers including Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT-4, Google Gemini, and Perplexity Sonar. Your account administrator controls which providers are enabled for your workspace. Results from each provider are shown separately so you can see where your brand's visibility varies across AI systems.

Most brands run recurring scans monthly. AI engine behavior changes as their training data and retrieval systems are updated, so regular scanning lets you track progress and catch regressions before they compound. Scan history inside the portal helps you see improvement trends over time without running comparisons manually.

SurfaceGX generates structures, outlines, briefs, and action plans, not final copy. These outputs are designed to brief a content writer or serve as scaffolding for AI-assisted writing. Your team reviews and refines the output to match your brand voice before publishing.

llms.txt is an emerging standard, analogous to robots.txt, that helps AI language models understand which of your pages are most important and how they should be used. Instead of blocking crawlers, it actively guides AI systems toward your best content. One important surface distinction: Google has confirmed that llms.txt is not required for Google AI Overviews or AI Mode — Google's generative features run on standard search fundamentals. Discovery files apply to independent AI surfaces such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and AI-powered agents that crawl on demand. SurfaceGX generates your llms.txt automatically based on your page visibility scores, scopes the recommendation to the surfaces where it applies, and includes a directive hint for each URL that tells AI systems what that page is for.

A page is ready for AI visibility work when it can be read clearly, communicates meaningful brand information, and gives AI systems enough confidence to treat it as useful source material. SurfaceGX turns page readiness gaps into prioritized repair work for content, SEO, and engineering teams.

Yes. The brand name and URL fields in most modules accept any brand, not just your own. Auditing a competitor's AI presence can reveal gaps in their coverage, narratives they are using that resonate with AI engines, and source types that are giving them authority you could pursue for your own brand.

The portal includes export tools for sharing summaries, recommended next actions, and team handoffs. For audit results, use the available export options or your browser's print-to-PDF workflow to capture and share the results view.

SurfaceGX is a multi-tenant platform and module access is controlled by feature flags set by your account administrator. If you expect to see a module that is not appearing, contact your admin and ask them to enable the relevant feature flag for your account. The Compliance Shield module is only available for accounts with the industry configured as Legal Services.

Audit results persist within your browser session. They survive tab switches within the app, but they are cleared when you close the tab or log out. For long-term record keeping, export your results using the available export options after each session.

SurfaceGX is designed for teams that need to manage brand presence across AI channels. Marketing leaders use it to understand and report on AI visibility. Content teams use it to get specific, actionable writing briefs. SEO and digital teams use it to measure and fix the technical signals that AI engines rely on. Agencies use it to manage GEO/AEO visibility across multiple client brands.