The evolving relationship between AEO and traditional SEO

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Voices of Search – A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Podcast
Episode: The Evolving Relationship Between AEO and Traditional SEO
Date: August 27, 2025
Host: Jordan Cooney
Guest: Amy Jarenka, SEO Sustainable

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the rapidly changing landscape of search engine optimization (SEO) with a focus on the relationship between traditional SEO and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), particularly in the wake of accelerating AI integration in search. Through a forward-looking conversation with expert Amy Jarenka, listeners gain insight into how professionals must adapt strategies to keep pace with advancements in artificial intelligence and shifting user behaviors.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Pace of AI Adoption in Search

• AI’s Impact Timeline:

  • Jordan asks Amy to predict how the relationship between AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and traditional SEO will evolve over the next two years. Amy points out that two years is an “eternity” in the AI world, emphasizing the rapid evolution in this space.
  • Notable Quote:
    • "Two years. Ooh, that's so long for artificial intelligence." — Amy Jarenka (01:00)

• AI’s Mainstream Adoption:

  • Amy shares her early enthusiasm when she first encountered Bing Copilot, illustrating how far AI in search has come and how quickly the general public—not just tech insiders—are adopting new habits.
  • Amy observes current trends: “I’ve been watching ... how fast it's growing and to see where user behavior is going and how fast it's being adopted by the general public. Not just us techies, the general public.” (01:14)

2. The Future: From Traditional SEO to AI-Driven Strategies

• Adapt or Die Era:
  • Amy makes it clear traditional “10 blue link SEO” is becoming obsolete, and that practitioners must evolve to incorporate strategies for AI-driven search engines—or risk professional irrelevance.
  • Notable Quote:
    • "You're gonna adapt or die. Yeah, adapt or die. You know, aeo, Geo, whatever we end up calling it, whatever you as a professional want to call it, as long as it's for AI search. Right. That's where we're going and that's where it needs to be." — Amy Jarenka (01:44)

3. The Convergence of AEO and SEO

• Integration, Not Competition:
  • Jordan sums up the episode by suggesting that the relationship between AEO and traditional SEO will become deeply integrated—a necessary partnership for effective search strategies in the coming years.
  • Notable Quote:
    • "Totally think it's going to become a key relationship between those two." — Jordan Cooney (03:27)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Amy’s AI Epiphany:

  • "Since I found it on a Wednesday night at 10:30 on Bing. Right. Copilot, I was like, it's going to take over the world." (01:03)

• The Inevitable Shift:

  • "AI mode hasn't taken over traditional search, but we know it's going to. Yep." — Amy Jarenka (01:22)

• Industry Challenge:

  • "As far as saying, hey, you know, I'm a traditional SEO and I just do SEO. And by that you mean you do 10 blue link SEO. Right. You're gonna, you're gonna adapt or die." — Amy Jarenka (01:37)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:43: Crystal ball: Amy is asked about the future of AEO vs SEO.
• 01:01: Amy reflects on AI search adoption, citing her experience with Bing Copilot.
• 01:24: Amy notes AI isn't mainstream yet but is moving fast—“we’re not there yet… but we know it’s going to [take over].”
• 01:44: The “adapt or die” call—Amy’s message for SEO professionals.
• 03:27: Jordan sums up the evolving relationship between AEO and traditional SEO.

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Conclusion

Amy Jarenka and Jordan Cooney paint a picture of an SEO landscape in flux, urging all digital marketers and SEOs to embrace AI-driven search strategies or risk obsolescence. The key message: the evolution is not in choosing between AEO and SEO, but rather understanding how they are merging and re-shaping what it means to be visible in search.

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Key Takeaway:
For SEOs, success in the next era depends on integrating both traditional and AI-centric strategies, adapting quickly to technological change, and staying anchored in evolving user behavior.

Transcript

[A]

The Voices of Search Podcast is a proud member of the I Hear Everything Podcast network. Looking to launch or scale your podcast, I Hear Everything delivers podcast production, growth and monetization solutions that transform your words into profit. Ready to give your brand a voice then visit iheareverything.com welcome to the Voices of Search Podcast. A member of the I Hear Everything Podcast network, ready to expedite your company's organic growth efforts. Sit back, relax, and get ready for your daily dose of search engine optimization wisdom. Here's today's host of the Voices of Search podcast, Jordan Cooney.

[B]

All right, crystal ball. Little, little harder. One crystal ball. So looking into the future here, Amy, like where things are going. Tell me how the relationship between AEO and traditional SEO will evolve over the next two years.

[C]

Two years. Ooh, that's so long for artificial intelligence.

[B]

It is, it is.

[C]

Right, right, right. So I don't know if I was an early adopter stoked about this. Since I found it on a Wednesday night at 10:30 on Bing. Right. Copilot, I was like, it's going to take over the world. And so since I've been doing that and I've been watching it to see how fast it's growing and to see where user behavior is going and how fast it's being adopted by the general public. Not just us techies, the general public. Right.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

I am like, it is, it's taken over. Right. So we're not there yet. Right. We're not. You know, AI mode hasn't taken over traditional search, but we know it's going to. Yep. Right. So that's going to be the same traffic. Right. So as far as saying, hey, you know, I'm a traditional SEO and I just do SEO. And by that you mean you do 10 blue link SEO. Right. You're gonna, you're gonna adapt or die. Yeah, adapt or die. You know, aeo, Geo, whatever we end up calling it, whatever you as a professional want to call it, as long as it's for AI search. Right. That's where we're going and that's where it needs to be.

[D]

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[B]

Agreed. Totally think it's going to become a key relationship between those two. And that's a great place for us to wrap up this episode of the Voices Search podcast. Thank you to Amy Jarenka from SEO Sustainable for joining us. If you'd like to connect with Amy, you can find a link to our LinkedIn profile in our show notes [e-mail] for more information about Amy and SEO Sustainable, visit amyjarenka.com if you haven't subscribed yet and want a daily stream of SEO and content marketing knowledge in your podcast feed, hit the subscribe button in your podcast app or on YouTube and we'll be back in your feed soon. Okay, that's all for today, but until next time, remember the answers are always in the data.