No, AI-powered search is not built on theft: debunking misconceptions

AI-powered search tools like SearchGPT have sparked both excitement and concern among SEOs. Recently, industry prognosticators have expressed fears about AI-driven tools undermining traditional traffic sources. They worry that widespread adoption of these tools will divert so much traffic away from previously profitable websites that the decline in visibility will “unalive” those sites completely.

It’s normal to feel nervous about new technologies, especially when they seem to change not only the core of how you understand search works, but also change searcher behavior in general. Thankfully, anxiety fades when facts are clear. Let’s break down why AI-powered search is not built on theft and how it fits into the broader SEO ecosystem.

Understanding how AI-powered search works

Before addressing the claims of content theft, we must first understand how tools like SearchGPT function. At its core, these AI tools are large language models (LLM) trained on vast amounts of publicly available text data. This training process involves learning patterns in language to generate human-like text responses. Unlike traditional data analysis or fact-learning, the “training” focuses on understanding and predicting language rather than memorizing specific facts. This, then, begs the question: “Does it really, truly answer questions, or does it just create accurate-sounding guesses?”

Data gathering and synthesis

When a user submits a query, SearchGPT (specifically, but this is probably true of similar tools) processes the input by analyzing and interpreting the request using its trained language patterns. This means the way the search for facts is constructed is more accurate than relying solely on the terms inputted by the user. Then, instead of merely searching for and retrieving existing content, it looks at all the content from multiple top sources. It synthesizes that information (meaning it reads and evaluates all the retrieved content) to construct a coherent and comprehensive response.

The “synthesizing” process involves:

• identifying relevant data points
• understanding the context of the query
• evaluating the expertise and likelihood of accuracy
• and integrating information in a way that aligns with the user’s intent

Generating original content

SearchGPT doesn’t copy and paste text from websites. Instead, it generates new content based on the patterns it has learned during training. This process is similar to how human writers use their knowledge and experience to create original articles. By leveraging sophisticated algorithms, SearchGPT (and other tools) ensures that the generated text is both unique and informative, providing valuable answers without replicating existing content verbatim.

Ensuring accuracy and relevance

To maintain high standards of accuracy and relevance, AI-powered search has processes in the background to evaluate the reliability of the information it synthesizes. It prioritizes data from authoritative sources, cross-references information to minimize errors, and continually adapts to new information to provide up-to-date answers. This dynamic capability ensures that users receive responses that are not only accurate but also reflect the latest knowledge and trends.

The dynamic nature of AI responses

This is where the general understanding of how AI creates search responses and content goes astray. When tools like ChatGPT or AI-powered search tools write new content or provide answers, they are not relying solely on data points and facts that they have been *previously* trained on; the data set is not “old.” The AI’s ability to search for and adopt new information allows it to refine its responses over time, ensuring that the answers remain relevant, valuable, and accurate. This continuous learning process means that AI-powered tools can adjust responses to better meet users’ needs as user behavior and information evolve, providing a more personalized and effective search experience.

To sum up, tools like SearchGPT function by gathering and synthesizing information from a wide array of sources (that they find on the web) to generate original, accurate, and relevant responses to user queries. This process ensures that while the AI provides quick and concise answers, it does so by leveraging a deep understanding of language and context rather than stealing or copying content.

The role of attribution and source linking

The biggest concern among SEOs is the traffic loss if AI-powered search provides direct answers without driving clicks to the source website. This fear is completely understandable but overlooks an important aspect: the role of attribution.

Many AI-powered search engines, including those integrating models like SearchGPT, prioritize providing users with accurate, high-quality information. In doing so, they include links back to the original sources. This attribution ensures that websites receive credit and traffic for their content. Rather than stealing clicks, AI serves as a conduit, directing engaged users to the source of the information for more in-depth exploration.

However, this also means that the core concern, that some sites might lose traffic because they are not chosen as the cited source for the information, is a reasonable concern. The way to combat this loss isn’t to fight against adopting new technology (because that is probably futile at this point). The best way to fight is to ensure the cited source is YOUR source. This will become the new focus of SEO.

AI as a complement, not a competitor

The notion that AI-powered search will “kill” websites is rooted in a misunderstanding of how these tools are intended to function. AI doesn’t replace the need for high-quality, authoritative content; it amplifies it. Search engines and AI tools rely on the experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (EEAT) of websites to deliver relevant and credible information to users.

Websites that invest in EEAT will continue to thrive, as AI tools will naturally prioritize their content in response to user queries. In this sense, AI becomes a partner in the SEO journey, helping to surface the best content and ensure it reaches the right audience.

Websites that are “killed” by AI-powered search won’t be innocent victims of a new technology run amok; rather, they’re more likely to have been removed from the knowledge pool by digital Darwinism — “survival of the fittest“ and all that.

The future of SEO in an AI-driven world

As with any technological advancement, AI-powered search tools will require SEOs to adapt and evolve their strategies. However, this evolution doesn’t mean the end of traditional SEO practices. Instead, it highlights the importance of optimizing for both AI and human users — which is not all that different from the old guidance to “optimize for both robots and human users.” See? What’s old is new again!

By creating valuable, authoritative (read: unique!) content that meets users’ needs, websites can continue to grow their visibility and influence in an AI-driven world. SEO professionals who embrace these changes and integrate AI into their strategies will be better positioned to succeed.

Dispelling the myth of theft

The idea that AI-powered search is built on theft is misleading and overlooks the potential benefits these tools bring. Rather than fearing AI, SEOs should leverage it to enhance their strategies, drive more meaningful engagement, and ensure their content remains at the forefront of search results.

AI isn’t here to steal; it’s here to drive evolution. It’s not the biggest or loudest that thrive on the web, but those who adapt. Just as in nature, survival belongs to the fittest—those who innovate, evolve, and embrace the future.