If AI Only Cites 3–4 Sources Per Answer, Is Traditional SEO Already Obsolete?

[ethanmiller]

A new industry guide on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) points out something worth sitting with: a cl***ic search results page can show ten links, but an AI-generated answer might only cite three or four sources total. That's a m***ive drop in "shelf space" — and it's already changing how brands need to think about visibility. Curious where this community lands on it.

• With AI Overviews and tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Copilot synthesizing answers instead of listing links, do you think ranking #1 on Google still matters as much as it used to — or is "getting cited" the new #1?
• The guide argues GEO doesn't replace SEO but sits on top of it — technical SEO, structured content, and entity clarity all still matter. Do you agree, or have you seen cases where a site with weak SEO fundamentals still gets cited by AI tools anyway?

Would love to hear from anyone who's actually tested prompt visibility for their own brand or a client's — what worked, what didn't, and whether the "GEO agency" pitch has lived up to the hype for you.