What are AI search engines?
AI search engines are search tools that use artificial intelligence to deliver more accurate, contextual, and conversational results. Unlike traditional search engines, which rely heavily on keywords and backlinks, AI-powered search engines analyze intent, context, and natural language to provide direct answers, summaries, or conversational responses.
Key characteristics of AI search engines include:
- Conversational interaction – users can ask questions in natural language
- Direct answers – providing information without requiring clicks to websites
- Contextual understanding – grasping the meaning behind queries, not just keywords
- Real-time information synthesis – combining data from multiple sources into coherent responses
- Continuous learning – improving results based on user interactions
Think of them as a blend of search engine and AI assistant, capable of not just retrieving links but also generating responses based on what they understand from the web.
In 2025, AI search engines are becoming a big deal, shaping how users find information and how brands get discovered online. Let’s take a look at the top AI search engines leading the way.
Top AI search engines in 2025
1. Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI is one of the most advanced AI-driven search engines available today. It combines real-time web search with AI-generated responses, offering citations for its answers. Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity delivers direct answers rather than just links, making it a great tool for research and fast information retrieval.
Best for: Researchers, professionals, and users who want verified, high-quality AI-generated answers.
2. Google AI-Overviews
Google has been integrating AI into search for years, and Gemini represents its latest AI model family. While not a direct replacement for Google Search, Gemini enhances search experiences by providing AI-driven summaries and interactive answers. Google rolled out AI Overviews, which has impacted how brands appear in search results. Be aware that Google AI Overviews are currently not rolled out in Europe.
Best for: Anyone already using Google who wants an AI-powered search assistant alongside traditional search results.
3. ChatGPT (with browsing)
ChatGPT is widely known as an AI chatbot, but with its browsing capability enabled, it also functions as a powerful AI search engine. Unlike Google, it provides detailed, AI-generated summaries rather than a list of links. Users can interact conversationally, refining their searches without restarting queries.
Best for: Users looking for an AI search tool that provides detailed, conversational responses rather than just web links.
4. You.com
You.com is a privacy-focused AI search engine that lets users customize their search experience. It offers an AI-powered search assistant (YouChat) alongside a more traditional search experience. One standout feature is its ability to summarize and categorize search results, making it easier to digest large amounts of information.
Best for: Users who want control over their search experience with AI-powered assistance.
5. Bing AI / Microsoft CoPilot
Microsoft’s Bing AI is built on OpenAI’s GPT-4, making it one of the most advanced AI search engines. It integrates chat-based search within the Bing experience, providing AI-generated summaries along with traditional web results. With its Edge browser integration, it’s a powerful tool for AI-assisted browsing. However, there are rumors that Microsoft is building their own LLM to fuel Bing and CoPilot.
Best for: Users looking for AI-enhanced search that integrates well with Microsoft products.
Users looking for a fresh approach to search that prioritizes discovery over keyword matching.
AI Search Engine Comparison
Here’s how the top AI search engines compare across key features:
Why AI search engines are changing SEO
AI search engines don’t just rank web pages; they summarize, analyze, and directly answer questions. This means that ranking in AI search is different from traditional SEO.
Here’s how AI search is shaking up SEO:
- Less reliance on backlinks: Traditional SEO heavily depends on backlinks. AI search engines prioritize contextual understanding over just link-building.
- More emphasis on content quality: AI-driven search rewards well-structured, informative, and authoritative content over keyword stuffing.
- Direct answers reduce clicks: Since AI search engines often provide direct answers, users may not need to click through to websites, reducing organic traffic.
- Conversational optimization is key: Brands need to optimize for conversational queries, ensuring their content aligns with AI-generated answers.
Want to learn more about adapting your strategy? Check out our complete guide to AI SEO optimization.
How brands can monitor AI search rankings
With AI search engines shaping how users find information, brands need a new way to track their visibility. This is where AI search monitoring tools like Otterly.AI 🦦 come in.
Otterly.AI helps brands:
- Track AI-generated answers: See how AI search engines mention your brand or products in real-time.
- Monitor AI-driven rankings: Understand how your content appears in AI-generated responses across multiple platforms.
- Optimize for AI search visibility: Get actionable insights and specific recommendations to improve your presence in AI search engines.
- Competitive analysis: See how competitors are performing in AI search results and identify opportunities to outrank them.
As AI search continues to evolve, brands that monitor and adapt to these changes will have a competitive edge.
Ready to improve your AI search visibility? Start your free Otterly.AI trial today →
FAQs
What is the best AI search engine?
There’s no single “best” AI search engine – it depends on your needs. Perplexity AI is great for research, Google Gemini integrates well with traditional search, and ChatGPT offers deep conversational search capabilities.
How do AI search engines affect SEO?
AI search engines prioritize contextual, high-quality content rather than traditional keyword and backlink strategies. They also provide direct answers, which can impact organic traffic.
Can I optimize my website for AI search engines?
Yes! Focus on high-quality, well-structured content, optimize for conversational queries, and monitor how AI search engines display your brand.
How can I track my brand’s ranking in AI search?
Tools like Otterly.AI help brands track how they appear in AI-generated search results and monitor their visibility in AI-driven search experiences.
What’s the difference between traditional search and AI search?
Traditional search returns a list of links based primarily on keywords and backlinks. AI search understands your query intent and directly generates answers by synthesizing information from multiple sources.
How are AI search engines changing user behavior?
Users are increasingly expecting direct answers rather than having to click through multiple websites. This shift toward “zero-click searches” means brands need to ensure they’re cited within AI-generated responses.