In 2026, over half of consumers are now using AI-powered search, with ChatGPT alone receiving over 900 million weekly users.
At the same time, Google is rapidly shifting towards AI-generated answers. Today, approximately 50% of all searches trigger AI Overviews (AIO). It’s a feature that many use unwittingly and that usage figure is expected to exceed 75% by 2028.
That means less scrolling, less clicking and less traffic to websites.
In fact, around 58% of Google searches already end without a click through to any website at all and this figure rises to 93% when in specialised mode. So even when you rank well thanks to your SEO efforts, it no longer guarantees the visibility it used to.
We are quickly moving into a zero-click environment where answers are increasingly delivered without a user ever reaching your website. And, for property businesses, this changes the game. Potential buyers, tenants and investors are still searching, but they’re often forming opinions and getting what they need without engaging directly with your brand.
In an AI-first world, absence is your biggest blind spot.
AI tools generate answers by synthesising from what they understand to be credible, consistent and authoritative sources. So, if your brand isn’t clearly present in that ecosystem, it simply isn’t part of the answer.
This is where Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) comes in. GEO is at the core of understanding how your brand is seen – and where it isn’t – across the Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI and Claude. From there, it’s about closing the gaps with the right AI-friendly signals – including clear, structured content, credible third-party validation, and consistent visibility across channels.
Simply put, GEO is strategic communications, executed with precision, ensuring your brand is being understood.
Not sure what’s in your blind spots? Insights by The Oracle Group offers AI Visibility and GEO support to property and lifestyle businesses, starting with a free seven-day report.
Talk with our Insights team today to find out more via insights@theoraclegroup.co.uk.