GENERATIVE AI SEARCH REPORT

Winning the next wave of search: how generative AI is reshaping retail

Generative AI has shifted the foundation of product discovery. Consumers are no longer just browsing search results—they're also asking conversational questions & expecting immediate, personalized recommendations. For brands, this means the rules of visibility are changing.

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The shift from traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is compressing the purchase journey into a single dialogue. Instead of awareness, consideration & comparison happening across multiple touchpoints, consumers now move from need to purchase in one interaction. The challenge? Only a handful of products appear in AI-generated recommendations.

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In this report, you'll learn:

• How generative search is transforming retail discovery
• What it means for your brand's visibility
• How to optimize for the algorithms that are reshaping the digital shelf

Key takeaways from the generative AI search report

Over two billion generative queries happen daily across major AI platforms

ChatGPT alone receives 50+ million product-related prompts each day, making it the second most popular commerce destination after Amazon. Brands that aren't optimized for these queries risk becoming invisible.

58% of consumers now use Generative AI (GenAI) tools for product recommendations

Shoppers arriving via AI agents are 10% more engaged than traditional visitors, with stronger intent to purchase. They're further down the funnel & ready to convert.

‍Content quality now determines AI visibility

LLMs prioritize well-structured, data-rich pages over keyword-stuffed titles. Detailed product descriptions, conversational copy & complete SKU attributes are critical for inclusion in generative search results.

Trust drives recommendations

Reviews & sentiment analysis now influence which brands AI models surface. Maintaining healthy review volume & positive ratings is essential for staying visible in generative search.

The purchase journey has compressed into a single conversation

Traditional SEO required shoppers to move through awareness, consideration & comparison across multiple touchpoints. With AEO, consumers now go from "Need > Ask > Answer > Purchase" in one interaction.

Brands must navigate competing AI ecosystems

Amazon's proprietary LLM (Rufus) rewards detailed PDPs & conversational Q&A, while open models like Shopify's endpoint strategy demand consistent metadata & structured content. Success requires optimization for both.

Winning the next wave of search: how generative AI is reshaping retail

Key takeaways from the generative AI search report

Ready to tackle AI search?