How often have you read in SEO trends that “next year will be the year of voice search”? Despite years of predictions, voice search has not dominated the market, and users still prefer traditional methods of interacting with search engines. However, the continuous development and enhancement of AI tools are reshaping the rules of the game. What was once a repetitive topic in “how to optimize for voice search” articles has now gained momentum and future relevance.
The Growth of Voice Search Over the Years
Voice search has evolved significantly in recent years. Between 2019 and 2020, device sales grew dynamically from 3.25 billion to 4.2 billion units. Current data shows that there are now 8.4 billion devices globally. While traditional search remains the most popular method, voice search usage is increasing—approximately 20.5% of people worldwide already use voice search. However, many of these users access it via mobile devices, which account for 27% of global search activity.*
Despite its growth, voice search experienced a noticeable slowdown and fluctuations between Q3 2022 and Q4 2023. However, from Q2 2024 onwards, this trend began shifting positively, possibly due to increased interest and interaction with AI chatbots like Google Gemini, Bing Copilot, Perplexity AI, and now DeepSeek. The real question remains: how effective is voice search in delivering accurate answers to users’ queries?
*https://www.demandsage.com/voice-search-statistics/
What’s Next for Voice Search?
Imagine asking your phone, “Hey, where’s the best sushi near me?” and instantly receiving a personalized recommendation. No typing, no scrolling, just an effortless answer. Welcome to the world of voice search and AI chatbots, where search engines no longer just index keywords but actually engage in conversations with users.
Google is not slowing down in AI development, introducing Gemini, a project designed to compete with ChatGPT. Gemini is capable of analyzing, translating, summarizing, and generating text in multiple languages. Due to its multimodal capabilities, it could significantly impact voice search. Gemini can better understand context, linguistic nuances, and user intent, leading to more precise answers for voice queries.
With generative AI models, voice search is becoming more conversational, resembling an interaction with a smart assistant rather than a series of disconnected queries. For example, Gemini can process complex questions, rather than just responding to simple commands. Since Gemini is integrated with all Google tools, including Google Assistant, it enhances intelligence and efficiency in voice-based search.
Adapting SEO Strategies for AI Chatbot Traffic
AI chatbots are already generating increasing traffic. Although this currently represents only a small percentage of organic traffic, it presents both opportunities and challenges for SEO strategy development. AI chatbots are changing how users find information—they provide direct answers to questions instead of redirecting traffic to websites, as traditional search engines do.
Thus, SEO strategies must adapt to this new reality. The goal should be to become a trusted knowledge source that AI chatbots rely on for accurate information.
Creating AI-Friendly Content
The focus here is on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) and producing expert-level, almost encyclopedic content with proper structure. Previously, SEO content was expected to be comprehensive. While that remains true, content must now prioritize clarity and precision. AI prefers accurate information over lengthy discussions.
Since users ask chatbots short, specific questions, they expect concise, factual responses. Therefore, formats such as Q&A sections, bullet points, tables, and clear headings will play a crucial role in content optimization.
Moreover, AI chatbots prioritize credible sources. Unique articles featuring case studies, research, and original analyses will rank higher than generic articles on a repetitive topic.
AI Citation SEO – How to Build Authority?
To become a cited source for AI chatbots, websites must strengthen their authority through SEO strategies focused on:
-
Earning backlinks from reputable sources within the same industry
-
Collaborating with industry experts
-
Publishing authoritative content on platforms like LinkedIn and Google Scholar
Conversational Keywords and Natural Language
Are there new recommendations for keyword optimization in AI chatbot SEO? Absolutely.
When optimizing for AI chatbots, the focus should shift toward conversational language. The FAQ format is a prime example of a conversational approach – questions and answers are structured naturally. Users ask chatbots full-sentence queries, meaning content should reflect how people speak and type in real-life interactions.
Long-tail keywords – a strategy previously discussed for voice search optimization – are becoming even more critical. As a result, content must be semantically rich, contextually deep, and written for both search engines and human users.
Structured Data and AI-Generated Snippets
AI chatbots favor structured content that offers ready-to-use answers for specific queries. Using Schema markup helps AI interpret content more efficiently. Key structured data types to implement include:
-
FAQ Schema – Helps AI extract direct answers
-
Article Schema – Enhances content comprehension
-
How-To Schema – Displays step-by-step instructions
-
Product Schema – Supports product indexing
-
Local Business Schema – Improves local search visibility
Conclusion
AI-driven search algorithms are becoming more human-like. While voice search has enormous potential, it still faces significant usage disparities worldwide, with traditional search remaining dominant. Therefore, multimodal search will likely continue evolving as a complement to traditional search rather than a replacement.
Accurate speech recognition is only one piece of the puzzle in the quest for truly intelligent and personalized assistants. Despite advancements in Apple Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa, users often find that complex queries still result in unsatisfactory answers.
The future of SEO will belong to those who adapt to AI-driven interactions, optimize for voice and conversational search, and build trustworthy, AI-friendly content.
