CGO MEDIA RESEARCH

Latest Research
AI Search, GEO & SEO

Independent research, analysis and evidence on the changing search landscape, including Al search, Generative Engine Optimisation, traditional SEO and digital visibility across multiple platforms.

Research for a Changing Search Landscape

CGO Media publishes independent research examining how people find information, how Al systems construct answers, how search visibility is evolving and what organisations can do to improve their digital presence in an Al-driven world.

Our research covers Al search, GEO, traditional SEO, entity authority, digital trust, industry-specific applications and the commercial impact of search. It is based on documented methodology, real-world testing and analysis of multiple data sources.

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Featured Research

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AI Answer Construction in Generative Search

Publication date: 18th August 2026

An in-depth analysis of how Al systems construct answers, the role of different content sources and what this means for SEO, GEO and digital visibility.

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AI Research Knowledge Network and Digital Information Architecture

AI Citation Selection in Generative Search

Publication date: 18th August 2026

A research framework examining how generative search systems determine which sources receive visible attribution, how citations influence trust, and why citation visibility is important.

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AI Research Data Infrastructure and Connected Knowledge Systems

AI Source Selection in Generative Search

Publication date: 18th August 2026

Research into how Al systems identify, evaluate and choose information sources, including the importance of entity authority and content quality.

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Latest Publications

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The world through a magnifying glass

The State of Search 2026

RESEARCH AI SEARCH | GEO

Published: 17 June 2026
Last updated: 21 October 2026

Independent research examining the evolution of search, AI discovery, GEO, digital authority, citations and the future of online visibility.

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Fancy chess pieces in gold and bronze

The Next Decade of Search

RESEARCH | AI SEARCH

Published: 20 July 2026
Last updated: 12 October 2026

Research into how search may evolve through AI assistants, multimodal discovery, autonomous agents, entity authority and predictive information systems.

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Downtown at night

Entity Authority in AI Search

RESEARCH AI SEARCH | SEO

Published: 18 July 2026
Last updated: 12 October 2026

Research into how entity clarity, Knowledge Graph relationships and corroborated information influence rankings, AI citations and visibility.

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Gold graph

AI Search Behaviour Statistics UK

STATISTICS | AI SEARCH

Published: 22 July 2026
Last updated: 26 September 2026

50 AI Search Behaviour statistics for the UK in 2026, covering AI search usage, conversational queries, trust and consumer decision-making.

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Research by type

Research Library

In-depth research and analysis
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Framework Library

Strategic frameworks and models
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Statistics Library

Search and Al data and trends
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Research Observations

Key findings and evidence
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Sector Research

Research across 12 industries
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Research Methodology

Our approach and standards
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Latest Sector Research

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international organisations

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SaaS sector

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Research Standards & Methodology

Explore the principles behind CGO Media’s independent research, including documented methodologies, research architecture, authorship, evidence assessment, corrections, transparency and citation guidance.
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Press & Media Resources

Resources for journalists, analysts and researchers, including key publications, datasets and expert commentary.
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Latest Research page highlights recently published and substantially updated studies on AI Search, Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), SEO, digital authority and information discovery. For the wider collection of papers and supporting resources, visit the CGO Media Research Library.

Research examines how search engines and AI systems discover information, interpret entities, select sources, generate citations and recommend organisations. Readers can explore connected models in the Framework Library and in-depth investigations in the Research Library

The page is intended to reflect new publications and significant revisions as research becomes available. There is no guaranteed publication frequency. Readers should check the publication and review information on each study and consult the Research Methodology for the approach to revisions and versioning.

Research methods vary by question and publication type and may include literature review, source analysis, structured observation, comparative analysis, conceptual modelling and original data collection. The CGO Media Research Methodology explains how evidence, limitations and research claims are assessed.

Research papers investigate defined questions; frameworks organise related findings into analytical models; and observations document emerging or recurring patterns without automatically claiming statistical generalisability. Compare the Research Library, Framework Library and Research Observations Library.

GEO research examines how information and organisations may become discoverable, represented and cited in generative answer environments. CGO Media connects these questions to its research frameworks and wider research papers.

Traditional SEO research often focuses on crawling, indexing, rankings and organic search performance. AI Search research also examines generated answers, source selection, entity interpretation and recommendations. The State of Search provides broader context for this evolution.

Yes. Source selection and citation behaviour are recurring topics across the research programme. Readers can explore related publications in the Research Library and connected analytical models in the Framework Library.

Entity authority research considers how organisations, brands and other identifiable entities are represented and supported by credible information across digital sources. The CGO Entity Authority Framework explores these relationships as an analytical model, not a confirmed platform ranking formula.

Yes. CGO Media examines brand recognition, authority signals, recommendation outcomes and their possible relationships with source evidence. The Research Observations Library provides focused investigations into these emerging patterns.

The research programme includes investigation, methodology, analysis, framework development, writing and editorial review, with contributors identified according to their work on individual publications. Learn more on the CGO Media Research Team page.

The Latest Research page is a discovery point for new and updated work, while the Research Library is the broader collection of papers and related resources. The Sector Research Library provides another route into industry-specific studies.

CGO Media publishes quantitative research and statistics resources, but individual numerical findings must be interpreted in light of their stated datasets, measurement methods and limitations. The Research Methodology explains why research observations and statistical findings are treated separately.

Research may be referenced subject to the authorship, citation and licensing information attached to each publication. Journalists and researchers can use Press & Media Resources for research enquiries and should verify publication details in the Research Library.

Publication on CGO Media or an external repository should not be taken as proof of independent peer review. Review status and supporting evidence should be assessed for each publication. The Research Disclaimer explains important limits on interpretation and use.

Yes. The Sector Research Library covers 12 industries, including financial services, ecommerce, healthcare, legal services, SaaS, technology and travel. Its research examines how discovery, credibility and AI visibility differ across sectors.

Organisations can use research to identify questions about technical accessibility, entity clarity, source credibility, content evidence and measurement. The Framework Library provides analytical models, while the Sector Research Library offers industry-specific context. Research does not guarantee rankings or AI recommendations.

Yes. Research on Google AI Overviews forms part of the wider programme investigating how generated answers change information discovery and organic visibility. Browse the Research Library for the relevant paper and related work.

Technical SEO remains relevant to content accessibility, machine interpretation and discoverability, although AI systems may use different retrieval and answer-generation processes. The Technical SEO Audit page explains the practical audit context for organisations.

No. Frameworks are analytical structures developed to organise research findings and practical considerations. They should not automatically be treated as verified descriptions of proprietary AI or search algorithms. See the Research Methodology for the distinction between evidence and conceptual modelling.

Observations describe documented patterns, whereas statistical findings require a defined quantitative basis and appropriate methodology. This distinction is central to the Research Methodology and helps prevent exploratory findings from being presented as universal percentages.

Yes. Papers and frameworks may be revised when evidence, methodology or search technologies change materially. Significant revisions may appear on the Latest Research page. Readers should check the relevant publication’s review details and the Research Methodology for versioning principles.

Researchers, analysts and journalists can contact CGO Media regarding methodology, publication details, citations and supporting context. The Press & Media Resources page explains the available enquiry routes.

Start with the State of Search for a broad overview, then explore recent publications through the Latest Research page. For research methods and practical models, continue to the Research Methodology and Framework Library.

Conclusion

CGO Media’s latest research connects new evidence, structured observations and analytical frameworks across SEO, AI Search and GEO. Explore the complete Research Library to follow developments, examine methods and find research relevant to your organisation or sector.

Make Your Business or Organisation Visible Wherever Decisions Are Made

Strengthen your presence across AI Search, GEO and traditional search. Build the authority, trust and relevance signals that help search engines and AI platforms find, cite and recommend your organisation.

For Journalists & Researchers

Access original research, statistics, sector analysis and expert commentary on AI Search, GEO, SEO and the changing search landscape. Find evidence, figures and specialist insight designed to support journalists, researchers and publications.