The halfway point of the year is the ideal moment to step back from day-to-day execution and run a comprehensive audit of your AI search visibility. The first half of 2026 has seen significant developments in AI search — platform expansions, algorithm updates, competitive shifts, and new features across Gemini, ChatGPT, and Google AI Mode. The brands that enter Q3 with a clear picture of where they stand, where they have gained or lost ground, and what needs to be addressed b

In a market crowded with SEO tools all claiming to be the best, third-party rankings carry real weight. When Semrush was named the #1 Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) tool on G2 — the largest software review platform in the world — it marked more than a product milestone. It signaled something important about where search is heading and what tools actually work in 2026. If you haven't thought seriously about AEO yet, this is the moment to start. Here's what the ranking means,