ChatGPT and SEO: 5 Key Insights

How Much Does ChatGPT Impact SEO?

ChatGPT's absence has had a significant impact across various industries. Regarding the impact of ChatGPT on SEO, I want to share a few perspectives as food for thought.

1. The difference in positioning between ChatGPT and search engines

Search engines help people find things online. Their goal is to be accurate, fast, and complete. To do this, they spend a lot on scanning websites, looking at content, changing algorithms, and stopping cheating. When users search with keywords, they get "10 results" (because users rarely go past the first page). The value of SEO is being on the first page of results to get user clicks.

Search engines aim to provide solutions to user needs: you ask, and I'll recommend answers.

But is this the best approach? Not always. Search engines turn users' questions into more choices, letting users decide.

ChatGPT offers a different approach – ask a question, get an answer. This answer is based on the current AI algorithm and may or may not fully meet the user's needs. There can be a big difference between the question asked and the user's real problem.

Different problems have different solution levels. For specific questions, ChatGPT and search engines may perform similarly. But for open-ended questions, ChatGPT has an advantage. For example, ChatGPT can write papers and code, while search engines only provide formats and syntax. This is the key difference: ChatGPT is an assistant for everyone, while search engines are guides.

2. Will ChatGPT replace search engines?

Assistants can do complex tasks for users, like writing papers or coding. Search engines give multiple views on an issue, allowing different opinions.

From a "lazy" view, ChatGPT is better. But for personal growth, search engines have an advantage. There is a dark worry: If people trust ChatGPT's answers too much, could it mislead them? It's like calling a sane person insane in an asylum.

On long journeys, a compass matters more than a map. So ChatGPT may not fully replace search engines.

3. Will SEO disappear?

The relationship between ChatGPT and search engines was discussed. Search engines will still have a role, even if traffic from them decreases.