SEO is about ranking in a list of search results. AEO is about being named, described correctly and cited in the written answer an AI gives. The two overlap: answer engines that search the web while answering build their replies from pages they find, so a page that is crawlable, clear and useful helps both.
The difference is in what counts as success. In a list of links, the buyer still chooses where to click. In an answer, the engine has already chosen a few brands and explained why. AEO asks: for the questions buyers in your category actually ask, are you on that short list, and what does the answer say about you?
Google’s own guidance on its AI search features says that SEO best practices continue to apply, and says you don’t need to write content in a special way just for AI. That is a useful check on anyone selling AEO as a separate bag of tricks.
A practical start: list the questions your buyers ask, ask them yourself more than once, and note which brands and websites appear. See what an AI visibility audit is and AEO vs SEO. The term is often used interchangeably with GEO.