The 2026 State of AEO/GEO report surveyed more than 250 enterprise marketing leaders to assess how Answer Engine Optimization and Generative Engine Optimization are reshaping digital visibility and strategy.
Nearly all respondents (97%) said AEO/GEO had a positive impact on their marketing funnel in 2025, and 94% plan to increase investment in these areas in 2026. Enterprises allocated an average of 12% of their digital budgets to AEO/GEO in 2025, and over half (56%) made significant investments last year, signaling that AI-driven discovery channels are now strategic priorities.
AI referral traffic is proving valuable too, converting at twice the rate and in one-third fewer sessions than traditional sources, highlighting the high intent of users interacting through these channels. Most leaders (73%) classify their AEO/GEO programs as advanced or very advanced, and half use fully integrated AEO/GEO platforms to track and optimize performance, with mature programs far more likely to do so.
Key challenges include scaling AI-optimized content and measuring ROI in this new landscape. The report points to a fundamental shift in how brands must measure and grow their visibility in AI search experiences.
