Glossary

The terms, defined once and consistently.

Plain definitions for the vocabulary of AI-mediated buying, each linking to the fuller reference.

AI Search Optimization

AI search optimization is making a company discoverable and correctly represented across AI-powered search experiences. It is about being found across surfaces, not about surviving a buyer's requirements.

AI SEO

AI SEO adapts search optimization for AI-mediated results. It works on discoverability. Commercial evaluation works on whether you are chosen once discovered.

AI Visibility

AI visibility is whether AI systems can find, mention, and describe your company. It is necessary but not sufficient: being visible is not the same as being recommended.

ChatGPT Recommendations

ChatGPT recommendations are the companies ChatGPT names when asked what to consider. They are the output of an evaluation, and they change as the buyer's requirements change.

Client Zero

We ran the method on ourselves first. This website is the first thing we

Commercial Buying AI

Commercial buying AI refers to AI systems that help buyers evaluate and choose companies. It is the mechanism through which more commercial evaluation now happens before direct contact.

Commercial evaluation

Something evaluates your company before anyone buys from it. It works out

Commercial Evaluation

Commercial evaluation is the process that decides which company a buyer considers, validates, and selects. In AI-mediated buying, much of it happens before you know the buyer exists.

Commercial Evaluation Intelligence

We're trying to name and build a field: the study of how companies and AI

Evidence tier

Every real claim on this site comes with a confidence rating, on a

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the practice of shaping content so generative AI systems cite and recommend it. It targets being found and quoted, not being selected under real requirements.

Google AI Mode

Google AI Mode is a conversational, follow-up-driven AI search experience. Because it takes follow-up requirements, it is where commercial evaluation becomes directly observable.

Google AI Overviews

Google AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries at the top of search results. Being cited in an overview is discoverability; surviving a buyer's requirements is a separate question.

LLM Optimization

LLM optimization aims to influence how large language models represent and recommend a company. It targets representation. Commercial evaluation targets the decision that representation feeds.

Machine representation

Your company has two versions. One is written for people: the website, the

Recommendation survivability

To get recommended, a vendor has to survive a series of gates: getting

Requirements

Why do some vendors keep making the shortlist while others never get a