AI Isn’t the Problem. People Are.
14th Nov, 2025
The digital landscape has changed — again.
Between ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google’s new AI-driven search results, business owners everywhere are panicking about one question:
“How do we rank in AI?”
It’s a fair concern.
But here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud:
If AI doesn’t “know” you exist, it’s because you’ve given it nothing worth knowing.
AI Doesn’t Rank – It References
Traditional SEO was about climbing to the top of Google.
AI doesn’t work that way.
AI systems don’t list you — they learn from you.
They pull information from across the internet to build context, expertise, and authority. If your business has never shared anything new, valuable, or specific online, there’s nothing for AI to use when answering questions in your industry.
In other words:
If you sound like everyone else, AI will treat you like everyone else.
What Makes You Different Is What Makes You Visible
Too many businesses are still afraid to share what they know.
They say things like, “We can’t give that information away — our competitors will see it.”
Let’s be honest.
If your competitor is any good, they already know what you do, how you do it, and why.
The difference between you and them isn’t secrecy — it’s execution.
Coca-Cola isn’t Coca-Cola because of a hidden recipe.
KFC doesn’t dominate because no one knows the 11 herbs and spices.
They dominate because no one can do it quite like they do it.
So stop worrying about who’s watching.
Start focusing on doing what you do so well — and explaining it so clearly online — that no one can copy it effectively even if they tried.
AI Answers What’s Already Been Published
When you ask ChatGPT or Google’s AI a question, it searches what’s publicly available.
So if your website only says “We sell pink women’s sneakers,” that’s what AI knows.
It has no reason to highlight you over the hundreds of other businesses selling pink sneakers.
Now, if your website says:
“Our pink women’s sneakers are designed with adaptive memory-foam soles, developed after three years of research into ankle strain and everyday comfort,”
That’s something unique. That’s context.
That’s a data point AI can reference when deciding who’s worth quoting or summarising.
The more real, specific, and helpful information you put out there, the more likely it is that AI will use it.
Google Ads Are Getting Tougher Too
AI-powered search has also made Google Ads more competitive.
We’ve seen cost-per-clicks rise, impressions drop, and conversion rates fluctuate — not because your campaigns are broken, but because the entire advertising ecosystem is shifting.
When everyone’s paying for attention in a tighter, AI-driven space, you can’t afford to blend in.
You need stronger creative, clearer differentiation, and better-fed algorithms.
If your ads and content look, sound, and read like everyone else’s — the platforms will treat them that way.
AI Isn’t Magic — It’s a Mirror
We hear it all the time:
“I searched for my business on ChatGPT, and it didn’t find me.”
That’s not a glitch.
That’s a reflection.
AI only mirrors what exists about you online.
If there’s nothing there — or nothing meaningful — it can’t show you.
That’s not AI’s fault. It’s a content problem.
And yes, AI-written content can sound robotic if it’s written badly.
But the real issue isn’t the technology — it’s the input.
If you give AI vague, empty, or lazy information, you’ll get vague, empty, or lazy results.
Good AI output starts with good human input.
So, What Should You Do?
-
Start publishing what makes you valuable.
Talk about your process, your experience, your results — not just your services. -
Educate, don’t just advertise.
The internet rewards information, not intention. -
Collaborate with your marketing team.
We’re not trying to steal your “secrets.” We’re trying to help the world see your strengths. -
Stop fearing competitors.
Fear irrelevance instead.
The Bottom Line
AI isn’t stealing your visibility — your silence is.
You can’t expect to be referenced by the future of search if you refuse to contribute to it.
AI isn’t the enemy of marketers.
Lazy, uninformed content is.
At Ideation Digital, we’re not here to chase algorithms — we’re here to help your brand teach the internet who you are, so AI, search engines, and customers all know where to find you.
So help us help you.