AI & GEO optimization statistics

AI search engines are changing how people find information. These figures show what's actually happening with click-throughs and visibility, without the hype. GEO is new and partly uncertain, so we steer on customers and revenue, not on promises.

Last updated: June 14, 2026 · 8 verified statistics

TDK

Tanguy De Keyzer Oprichter & digitale strateeg

58% Drop in click-through rate for the top-ranked page when Google shows an AI Overview For keywords with an AI summary, Google effectively kept 58 out of every 100 clicks in December 2025 that used to go to the number-1 website. Eight months earlier, that drop was still 34.5%. Source: Ahrefs (2026)

68% Of Google searches end without anyone clicking through to a website In the first four months of 2026, 68% of searches ended without a click, versus 60% in 2024. People read the answer on the results page and stop there. Source: SparkToro (2026)

~25% Share of Google searches showing an AI Overview (Q1 2026) A benchmark across 21.9 million searches came out at 25.11% in the first quarter of 2026. The share varies strongly by sector: in commercial verticals it sat around 48%. Source: Conductor (2026)

+158% Jump in AI referral traffic within a single week after ChatGPT introduced clickable source links After ChatGPT's interface change in May 2026, referral traffic to websites rose 157.7% week over week. AI platforms are sending more visitors, but the volume remains small compared to classic search engines. Source: Similarweb (2026)

2,4 billion People use a generative AI tool every month AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini and Doubao count 2.42 billion monthly users combined, or 29% of the world's population, up 141% in a year. Source: DataReportal (2026)

51% Of B2B software buyers start research with an AI chatbot more often than with Google A year earlier that figure was still 29%. The buying phase is shifting to AI conversations before a vendor even enters the picture. Source: G2 (2026)

71% Of B2B software buyers use AI chatbots for vendor research Seven months earlier this was 60%. AI has become a fixed part of the B2B buying journey, no longer an experiment. Source: G2 (2026)

38% Of the sources AI cites also rank in Google's organic top 10 In July 2025 that was still 76%. AI increasingly pulls sources from outside the top 10. Good SEO remains the foundation, but it no longer guarantees a spot in the AI answer. Source: Ahrefs (2026)

What do these figures mean for Belgian B2B companies?

The figures tell two things at once. On one hand, search behavior is genuinely shifting: more than half of B2B buyers now start research in an AI chatbot, and click-throughs drop when Google shows an AI summary. On the other hand, AI referral traffic is still small, and the vast majority of searches still end without a click.

For Belgian B2B companies that means: panic isn’t warranted, but neither is waiting it out. The foundation remains strong SEO, but it’s no longer a guarantee: in 2026 only 38% of what AI cites ranks in the organic top 10, versus 76% a year earlier. Start with strong fundamentals and build GEO on top of that instead of treating it as a replacement.

The most important advice is an honest one: GEO is new and partly uncertain. Don’t sell yourself hype. Measure the real impact in your own data first, as described in our diagnosis of AI traffic in GA4 and Search Console. Steer on customers and revenue, not on visibility numbers you can’t trace back to your sales figures.

Frequently asked questions

Is GEO the new SEO I now need to catch up on? +

Not quite. Strong SEO remains the foundation, but it's no longer a guarantee: in 2026 only 38% of the sources AI cites rank in the organic top 10, versus 76% a year earlier. AI is increasingly pulling sources from outside the top 10. Our honest advice: invest in fundamentals first and experiment with GEO, rather than chasing a new hype.

Should I worry about zero-click and AI Overviews? +

It's real: 68% of Google searches end in 2026 without a click, and for the number-1 page the click-through rate drops 58% as soon as an AI Overview appears. For B2B with long sales cycles, what matters most is whether the right decision makers encounter your brand, even without an immediate click. Measure the impact in your own GA4 and Search Console first before drawing conclusions.

Does being cited in AI answers bring in customers? +

Rarely a lot of direct traffic: most AI searches end without a click. But 51% of B2B buyers now start research in an AI chatbot. Visibility there influences which vendors make the shortlist, even without a click.

What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): The Guide for 2026

Reuse these figures?

You may freely reuse these figures with attribution and a link to this page.

Source: Customer Impact, AI & GEO optimization statistics, https://www.customerimpact.be/en/marketing-statistics/ai-geo-optimization/

What clients say about us

Real client reviews on Google.

5,028reviews

What do these figures mean for you?

We translate market data into a concrete growth plan for your B2B company, focused on customers and revenue.

Book your free intro call

More statistics

Advertising budget statistics AI in marketing statistics AI-generated content statistics App marketing & ASO statistics Brand & reputation statistics Content production statistics Content strategy statistics E-commerce & user behavior statistics Email marketing statistics B2B Lead Generation Statistics Measurement & Strategy Statistics Mobile & App Performance Statistics Paid Advertising Statistics Search Trends Statistics SEO and keywords statistics Social and influencer marketing statistics Social and organic reach statistics Video marketing statistics Website performance statistics