SEO in 2025 According to Chat GPT

Dive deep into the "mind" of our favourite robot and see what it has to say about the state of SEO in 2025
As marketers, our job here at Twin Creek Media is becoming increasingly interesting as the new age of AI dawns. Chat GPT can make sense of complex information as fast as you can say “strange new world.” In its own words, read how AI “thinks” about the current state of SEO:
“Hey ChatGPT, summarize how search engine optimization is done in 2025, and how it's changed since 2020. Add how people search for products and services now, including devices, software, social media, browser, AI, etc.”
ChatGPT said:
Here’s a 2025 summary of how Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is done today, how it’s evolved since 2020, and how consumer search behavior has changed—including devices, platforms, and AI:
SEO in 2025: How It's Done
Modern SEO is more holistic, AI-integrated, and user-focused. Core elements include:
1. Search Intent Mastery
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Focus is on understanding and matching user intent (informational, transactional, navigational).
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Pages are optimized around topics and questions, not just keywords.
2. AI-Generated Content (with oversight)
- Tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Copy.ai generate SEO content, but:
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Human editing is crucial for tone, accuracy, and originality.
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Google now detects low-value AI content more effectively.
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“Experience” (part of E-E-A-T) is a bigger deal—real human perspective matters.
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3. Semantic & Entity-Based SEO
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Pages are structured to help Google understand entities and context.
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Schema markup, knowledge graph associations, and topical authority help.
4. Zero-Click & Featured Snippets
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More traffic is lost to “zero-click” results (Google answers in SERP).
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Winning position 0 (snippets, FAQs, carousels) is a strategic goal.
5. Video, Short-Form & Visual SEO
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YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikToks show up in search.
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Visual search (e.g., Google Lens) is common—optimize images with alt text, schema, and file names.
6. Voice & Conversational Optimization
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With smart assistants and AI chatbots handling queries, optimizing for conversational phrases is critical.
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FAQ formats, long-tail keywords, and natural language dominate.
7. Core Web Vitals & UX
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Page speed, mobile usability, layout shifts—all still matter.
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Accessibility (a11y) and privacy practices (e.g., no intrusive cookie prompts) influence rankings.
How SEO Has Changed Since 2020
Area |
2020 |
2025 |
Keyword Strategy |
Focus on keywords and density |
Focus on intent, questions, and topics |
Content Creation |
Manual + basic tools |
AI-assisted, human-refined |
Ranking Signals |
Backlinks, speed, mobile-first |
Experience, authority, AI-readability |
Search Formats |
Text-heavy |
Mixed (video, images, voice, snippets) |
User Devices |
Mostly mobile, some smart devices |
Mobile + AI assistants + wearables |
Voice Search |
Emerging |
Normalized; AI responses prevalent |
Platform Dependency |
Mostly Google, some YouTube |
Google + TikTok + ChatGPT/Bing Copilot |
How People Search in 2025
Devices
- Mobile-first, but also:
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Voice assistants (Google Assistant, Siri, Alexa)
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Smart TVs, wearables, car infotainment systems
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Software & Platforms
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AI Assistants (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot) used to search instead of browse
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People now ask AI to summarize reviews, compare products, or make recommendations
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Traditional SEO is adapting to AI answer engines
Social Media
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TikTok is now a major search engine, especially for Gen Z.
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Instagram and Pinterest drive product discovery visually.
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SEO for social = optimized captions, hashtags, keyworded video titles.
Browsers & Apps
- Google Chrome remains dominant, but:
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Many searches now originate in apps (Amazon, YouTube, Reddit, etc.).
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“Walled gardens” mean on-platform optimization matters.
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Key Takeaway
SEO in 2025 blends human expertise, AI tools, and cross-platform strategies. The goal isn't just to rank in Google—it’s to show up where people search, ask, scroll, and watch.
Did you read all of that? It might not be stuff you need to know, but our team is on the frontlines of this field, and this technology keeps us on our toes! Count on Twin Creek Media to ensure your business stays relevant in the digital space.