AI search · Intermediate

Assistive Agent Optimization (AAO)

Assistive Agent Optimization (AAO) is preparing a brand so AI assistants and the agents built on them can reach, understand, trust and act on it, so an agent chooses that brand when it completes a task for a customer.

By Thryv StudioUpdated

Category
AI search
Level
Intermediate
Also called
AAO
Coined by
Jason Barnard (Kalicube), 2025
Goal
Being chosen when an AI agent acts for a customer
Builds on
SEO, AEO and GEO

What is Assistive Agent Optimization?

AAO is the newest layer of AI search work. Search engines show a list of options, AI assistants narrow it to a few recommendations, and AI agents go one step further: they make the choice and take the action, such as booking a demo or placing an order. AAO is how you become the brand the agent picks, often with no person reviewing the options.

Jason Barnard of Kalicube coined the term in 2025 and describes it as an umbrella that takes in SEO, Answer Engine Optimization and Generative Engine Optimization.

AAO, AEO and GEO

AEO is about being named in an assistant's answer, and GEO is about being cited as a source. AAO includes both and adds the end of the journey: can an agent actually complete the task with you? That depends on readable prices and policies, pages and forms software can use, and trust built across the web.

The four questions an agent asks

  1. Can I reach you? AI crawlers must be allowed by robots.txt and by your server and firewall, and key facts must be in the HTML.
  2. Can I understand you? Your brand, category and prices should be stated plainly and identically everywhere.
  3. Can I trust you? Reviews, coverage and specific proof from third parties carry more weight than your own claims.
  4. Can I act with you? Offers, policies, forms and bookings must work for software, not just for people.

Frequently asked questions

Does AAO replace SEO?

No. Agents still rely on pages that search systems can crawl, index and trust. AAO builds on SEO and adds trust and actionability on top.

Do AI agents already buy things?

In some lanes. Google's agentic checkout buys from eligible merchants after the shopper confirms, and the Universal Commerce Protocol powers checkout inside AI Mode and the Gemini app. Most purchases still involve a person, but agents increasingly decide which brands that person sees.

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