Definition
AI Search is the family of search experiences in which a user asks a question in natural language and receives one composed answer, with sources cited, rather than a ranked list of links. It includes conversational assistants such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity, and the AI features inside traditional search such as Google AI Overviews and AI Mode.
The mechanics are similar across platforms: the question is expanded into several sub-queries, candidate pages are retrieved, compared for relevance and consistency, and one answer is written with a handful of citations. Being retrieved is necessary but not sufficient; the page also has to be understood, trusted and quotable.
Why it matters
For a growing share of buyers, AI Search is where the shortlist is formed. A brand’s presence in those answers is a new, measurable channel.
How it is measured
By sampling answers to a fixed set of buyer questions on each platform over time and reading who is named, who is cited and what is claimed. flowgen covers the platforms included in a workspace and lists them in every report.
