Here We Go Again.
It seems like every six months, someone goes viral by shouting, “SEO is dead!” and then they’re never heard from again. Lately, the culprit responsible for the alleged demise of SEO is AI, specifically, Google’s AI Overviews feature (formerly called SGE), which can answer complex questions directly inside search results. That’s a huge change. And it can make or break your business if you take your eye off the ball.
Now you may be thinking, “If AI can give people instant answers, what’s the point of ranking a website? Why am I wasting time blogging? Oh, no, is blogging dead, too?”
The truth is, SEO isn’t dead or even dying. It’s expanding and evolving. The rules are changing. Now here’s the important part: businesses that adapt early will benefit the most. So grab a notebook and let’s learn about AI Overviews. I know, I know. Another acronym to remember.
What Are Google’s AI Overviews?
AI Overviews are a new way for people to find information online. Instead of only showing a list of links, they use AI to create a conversational, synthesized answer to a question. They can combine multiple sources, summarize them, and present a clear response in seconds.
For example, instead of typing “best Italian restaurant in Boston” and clicking through review sites, you might ask AI Overviews and get an instant list with details like price range, specialties, and location—all in one result.
But here’s the crucial part: AI Overviews still rely on trusted, authoritative sources to build their answers. They typically cite the original websites they pull from, meaning your site’s visibility isn’t just showing up in the AI’s answer. It’s recognizing your business as a trusted source the AI wants to include.
Why This Matters for Your Business
The arrival of AI-driven search doesn’t mean people will stop clicking websites. Far from it. It means the bar for visibility is higher. And that’s the challenge. If your content is high-quality, authoritative and relevant, you can still earn visibility. Sometimes even more than before, because AI will favor strong, credible sources.
This is where EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness) becomes critical. Google and AI search models want reliable information. If your website shows deep knowledge of your field, real local relevance, and clear proof of credibility, you become a source the AI wants to include in its answers.
How AI-Assisted SEO Works in Practice
AI-assisted SEO is about using AI tools to improve efficiency without losing the human insight that builds trust. Telling stories that focus on local experiences is a great start. Also important:
Keyword Research: AI can quickly surface trending search phrases or local variations you might not have considered.
Content Structuring: AI can help organize your content outline so it’s more readable for both humans and search engines.
Competitive Analysis: AI can scan competitor sites to identify what they’re ranking for and where you can compete.
At Tannuzzo Creative, I use AI for speed and research. But the final content is always crafted by me. You need a real human poring over each word. It may seem like it on the surface, but AI can’t replicate the local insights you need to appeal to customers in Worcester, Waltham, or the Cape. It can’t tell when a sentence lacks warmth or when a local reference is outdated. That’s where 20+ years of marketing and copywriting experience come in. I can help make your content clear and make it search-engine friendly, even with AI changing the game.
The Growing Importance of Local SEO
Local SEO becomes even more important in the AI search era. AI Overviews often include geographically targeted recommendations, but they rely on accurate, complete, up-to-date business information. That means your Google Business Profile (GBP) is more critical than ever (and the reason I mention it in every discovery meeting). So remember to:
Post updates weekly (even short ones).
Keep your services, hours and location info current.
Add fresh photos and encourage reviews.
The more active and accurate your Google Business Profile is, the better your chances will be of showing up in both traditional and AI-driven results. Make it your secret weapon to cut through the competition.
A Real-World Massachusetts Example
I worked with a Newton-based home improvement company whose web traffic was solid but had plateaued. By refreshing their site with locally targeted blog posts, optimizing their Google Business Profile, and adding service-specific landing pages, they began appearing in AI-powered local results for “Newton deck repair” and “Boston kitchen remodeling” within 60 days.
The Bottom Line
Google’s AI Overviews feature isn’t the end of SEO, it’s an evolution. The businesses that win will be the ones that combine smart AI techniques with human-backed, high-quality, locally relevant content. That’s how you show up where it matters and win.
Ready to make sure your Massachusetts business is found as search changes? Let’s build a strategy that uses AI to your advantage and keeps you in front of the right customers.