The question for 2025–2026 isn’t just SEO or LLMO—it’s how quickly brands should rebalance content and distribution strategies. Organic search still drives durable demand, but generative engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are reshaping discovery, evaluation, and purchase intent. Brands that optimize only for traditional search results (“blue links”) risk losing visibility in the places where decisions are increasingly made: AI assistants.