Business idea · Agency
AI Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
AI Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): AEO focuses on optimizing content for AI-driven platforms, allowing businesses to appear as answers in AI queries rather than traditional search results. It was pitched on My First Million in the episode "$30B Founder: How To Rank #1 In ChatGPT" (aired September 15, 2025).
At a glance
| Podcast | My First Million |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | Sam Parr and Shaan Puri |
| Episode | $30B Founder: How To Rank #1 In ChatGPT |
| Aired | September 15, 2025 |
| Category | Agency |
| Real companies on the episode | Hampton, Mercury, TechRadar, vibecoding.com, loopmarketing.com, OpenAI |
The problem it solves
With the decline of organic traffic from traditional SEO due to the rise of AI search tools, businesses struggle to gain visibility. AEO provides a framework to ensure businesses are included in AI-generated responses.
How it makes money
Businesses could charge a subscription fee for ongoing AEO consulting services, or they could offer a freemium model where basic insights are free, but detailed reports and strategies are paid.
Skills you need
Expertise in digital marketing, familiarity with AI technologies, content strategy, and analytical skills to monitor traffic and engagement metrics.
The market, and why this works now
The rise of AI-driven search tools like ChatGPT has created a pressing need for businesses to adapt their content strategies. A practical first-revenue move is to establish a presence in relevant subreddits, such as r/Entrepreneur or r/SEO, where business owners seek guidance on optimizing their visibility in AI responses. A significant risk involves platform dependency on AI technologies, which may change their algorithms or policies, impacting the effectiveness of AEO strategies.
Our analysis, written after the episode. Not a quote from the show.
Real companies discussed on this episode
- Hampton
Hampton is a business that provides networking opportunities and support for entrepreneurs, particularly through peer groups.
- Mercury
Mercury is a financial technology company that provides banking solutions for startups, including personal banking services.
- TechRadar
TechRadar is a technology news and reviews website that provides information and comparisons on various tech products.
- vibecoding.com
A platform that enables non-developers to create software products easily.
- loopmarketing.com
A new approach to inbound marketing in the modern age of AI.
- OpenAI
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research organization that aims to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity.
Where this idea came from
Podcast: My First Million, hosted by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri
Episode: $30B Founder: How To Rank #1 In ChatGPT
Aired:
Summarized from the episode transcript. The show does not say which speaker raised each idea, so we credit the show, not a person.