OpenAI has removed a feature allowing ChatGPT conversations to be indexed by the Google search engine. The action comes following a growing number of complaints about user privacy. The company called it a “short-lived experiment.”

However, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, stated during a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on AI in May that, despite some advantages of ChatGPT, it will “probably not” replace Google. As more players have entered the AI race in the last year, it remains to be seen how it will play out.

As chatbots take a bigger bite out of search and the internet heads toward Google Zero, John Herrman writes, “The era of SEO is over. Say hello to GEO [Generative-engine optimization].” The experts he spoke to indicated that publishers should focus on quality content to rank highly in AI search,