Generic GEO agencies optimize for "AI search" as a monolith. Real GEO treats each engine as a distinct optimization target. This is the per-engine breakdown FORKOFF uses internally.
Google AI Overviews
Mechanic: Draws primarily from Google-indexed content with E-E-A-T signals. Favors established domains with author entities and structured data. AI Overviews policies (Google 2026) create distinct inclusion/exclusion patterns.
FORKOFF motion: Explicit AI-Overviews workstream: E-E-A-T depth on owned pages, structured byline entities, schema-graph alignment with Google KG.
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Mechanic: Training-data-based with retrieval augmentation via Bing for ChatGPT Search. Two separate optimization targets: training-data representation (long-horizon) and Bing-retrieval presence (near-term).
FORKOFF motion: Training-data seeding via high-authority external placements (Featured.com bylines, partner content on DR70+ domains). Bing-retrieval presence via sitemap and IndexNow pings.
Claude (Anthropic)
Mechanic: Training-data-based with tool-use retrieval when enabled. Training windows differ from ChatGPT. Citation patterns favor long-form, well-structured content with clear section hierarchy.
FORKOFF motion: Content format tuning for Claude's structural preference: clear H2/H3 hierarchy, explicit definitional first paragraphs, entity disambiguation in opening sections.
Perplexity
Mechanic: Retrieval-augmented: draws from the live web at query time. Fastest to reflect new content. Citation favors domains with llms.txt, clean crawlability, and structured data.
FORKOFF motion: llms.txt deployment on every client domain. Structured data stack. Content negotiation middleware so Perplexity can consume Markdown directly. Most immediate-impact GEO motion.
Gemini (Google)
Mechanic: Draws from Google's Knowledge Graph and indexed content. Entity consistency with Wikipedia and Wikidata improves citation probability. Different retrieval mechanics from AI Overviews despite sharing the Google ecosystem.
FORKOFF motion: Google KG entity alignment. Wikidata schema consistency. Schema.org structured data tuned to KG ingestion patterns.
Microsoft Copilot
Mechanic: Powered by Bing retrieval. Copilot's citation patterns mirror Bing's index with additional structured-response formatting. B2B decision-maker audience makes it high-value for enterprise brands.
FORKOFF motion: Bing IndexNow submissions. Bing-specific sitemap pings. Schema markup tuned to Bing's rich-result eligibility criteria.