How We Evaluated AEO Companies
AEO is a new discipline, which means there is no established framework for comparing companies. Most lists of “top AEO companies” are pay-to-play or based on surface-level criteria. We evaluated based on what actually matters.
Published research
Do they have original data about how AI search works, or are they just sharing opinions?
Methodology transparency
Can you see how they work? A credible AEO company should explain what data informs their recommendations.
Specialization
Do they focus on AEO specifically, or is it an add-on to existing SEO services?
Track record
Do they have case studies with specific, measurable results — not just testimonials?
Tool suite
Do they offer assessment or monitoring tools? AI visibility requires ongoing tracking across multiple platforms.
A note on our bias: Be the Answer is on this list. We included ourselves because we believe our research speaks for itself. Evaluate us the same way you evaluate everyone else on this page.
01
Be the Answer
Be the Answer is an AEO agency focused exclusively on local healthcare practices — chiropractic, physical therapy, dental, and med spa. Founded on the largest published AI citation studies in healthcare, covering 19,000+ AI responses across 41 cities, 120 query templates, and 3 AI models.
Key findings
- —Website structure is the #1 predictor of AI citation — not domain authority
- —Domain authority has virtually zero correlation with AI recommendations (r = -0.05)
- —Dedicated condition and service pages appear in 82-89% of AI-cited practices
- —Independent practices outperform corporate chains in AI citation rates
Services
AI Search Foundation ($500 one-time) — comprehensive audit, optimized content, and action plan. AI Growth Retainer ($3,500/month) — ongoing optimization, content freshness, monitoring, and market exclusivity.
Best for
Local healthcare practices that want a research-backed, specialized AEO partner with market exclusivity.
02
Graphite
Graphite is an enterprise AEO and SEO agency working primarily with SaaS and technology companies. Strong reputation through large-scale research studies and public case studies with well-known brands.
Approach
Combines traditional SEO with AEO, treating AI search as an extension of comprehensive search strategy. Published research covers AI content performance, topical authority, and internal linking with studies analyzing 11,994 to 65,000 URLs.
Best for
Enterprise SaaS companies with large content operations that need a combined SEO and AEO strategy at scale.
03
AirOps
AirOps provides a comprehensive AI search monitoring and optimization platform. Rather than a traditional agency, they offer tooling to track and improve visibility across AI search platforms.
Approach
Platform-first. Their monitoring tools track citation share, brand mentions, and share of voice across AI platforms. Their research on citation volatility, analyzing 45,000+ citations, provides useful data on how frequently AI sources shift.
Best for
Companies that want to monitor and measure AI visibility at scale, either alongside an AEO agency or with an in-house team.
Other Notable Companies
AEO is rapidly evolving. Here are other companies doing meaningful work:
Resoneo
Research-oriented company contributing technical studies on AI search behavior and how different AI platforms retrieve and rank sources.
Profound
AEO strategy consulting, helping companies develop their approach to AI search visibility with thought leadership on AI search as a strategic channel.
This list will grow as more specialized companies emerge. We will update this page as the landscape evolves.
How to Choose an AEO Company
This space is new enough that the difference between companies is significant. Here is what to look for:
Match specialization to your industry
AI search signals vary by industry — what works for SaaS looks very different from what works for a dental practice.
Ask for published research
Testimonials are easy to curate. Published research with specific methodology and sample sizes is much harder to fabricate.
Understand their methodology
If the answer sounds like repackaged SEO advice, that's a red flag.
Ask about reporting
How will you know if their work produces results? AI visibility requires tracking across multiple platforms.
Check for market exclusivity
If they'll take on you and your direct competitor in the same market, their incentives aren't aligned with yours.
Start smaller before committing
A one-time audit lets you evaluate quality before committing to a retainer.
Be wary of guarantees
AI recommendations are probabilistic. No one can guarantee specific placement in AI answers.