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Hi Dubai
4 days ago
- Business
- Hi Dubai
With AI Search Rising, Does Traditional SEO Still Matter?
Search has always been our compass on the internet. You think of something, type it in, and a list of answers magically appears. For the longest time, that magic was ruled by one name: Google. With over 90% of global market share, Google didn't just guide our searches—it defined how we built websites, created content, and grew businesses online. And then, AI showed up with a different kind of magic. The kind that doesn't just find answers but writes them for you. So here's the big question: if AI is answering our queries directly, where does that leave traditional SEO? In this article, we'll explore how AI is changing search, what this means for SEO, and whether traditional strategies still hold their weight in 2025 and beyond. Understanding How Traditional SEO Has Always Worked Before we jump into AI, let's quickly revisit how traditional SEO works. When you publish a web page, Google (and other search engines) send bots (called crawlers) to discover it. Once found, they scan the page, understand what it's about, and store that information in an index. When someone types a related search query, Google ranks and displays the most relevant results. That's crawling, indexing, and ranking in action. If your site isn't technically optimized for these steps, it may never even show up, neither in classic search results nor in AI-generated answers. So the basics of technical SEO (like site speed, structured data, proper metadata, and mobile optimization) still form the foundation of visibility. Then comes content. Good content. Content that's helpful, unique, and designed for humans, not just bots. Google calls this E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It matters because search engines want to serve quality, reliable information, especially on topics related to health, finance, or safety. Link-building and social signals round out the formula. The more trusted sources link back to your site, the more Google considers you worth showing. But what happens when the user doesn't click on a link at all? Enter AI: Search That Skips the Click The biggest shift in recent years is that people aren't clicking anymore. AI tools like Google's AI Overviews and Microsoft Bing's Copilot Search are designed to answer your question right there on the search page. This is what we call a "zero-click search." According to Bain research, over 60% of users now get their answers directly from these AI-generated summaries. That means a lot of the traffic you used to rely on from organic search is vanishing. Let's pause here. If you run a business or create content online, doesn't this mean SEO is dead? Not quite. Instead of killing SEO, AI is changing what counts as "success." Getting users to click is still valuable, but now so is being the source of information the AI pulls from. If your site is cited in an AI Overview, you might not get the click, but you still get visibility. And in many cases, users who do click through from an AI answer are more qualified—they're genuinely interested. Traditional SEO Is Now the Entry Ticket to AI Search Here's the twist: AI search systems still rely on traditional search infrastructure. AI Overviews, AI Mode, Bing Copilot—all of these use crawlers, indexes, and rankings to pull the best content from the web. If your content isn't technically optimized (can't be crawled or indexed), it won't be discovered, and it certainly won't be quoted. That means everything from meta descriptions to schema markup (structured data) still matters. Want AI to notice your content? You still need: Clean, crawlable site structure Descriptive page titles and URLs Proper use of alt text for images Fast-loading, mobile-friendly design High-quality, original content that solves real problems So traditional SEO hasn't vanished. It's become your gateway to AI visibility. The Power of E-E-A-T in an AI World Let's revisit E-E-A-T—Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. AI models are trained to prioritize credible, people-first content. If your article includes original research, real-life stories, and clear signals of expertise (author bios, credentials, trusted links), it's more likely to be selected as a source. This is especially true for "Your Money or Your Life" content \...health, finance, education, safety—where bad advice could harm someone. Google and Bing take these topics very seriously and heavily factor in trust signals.\ Add detailed author bios and credentials Use HTTPS and display clear contact info Collect and showcase positive reviews Publish unique, experience-backed insights Earn backlinks from high-authority websites If AI is the new librarian, E-E-A-T is your recommendation letter. AI Search Means You Need to Think in Topics, Not Keywords Remember the days of writing a blog post just to rank for a keyword? Those days are fading. AI doesn't work like that. It doesn't look for keywords—it looks for themes, context, and relationships. This means instead of stuffing pages with variations of the same phrase, you need to create deep, well-organized content that answers real questions. Topic clusters work better than isolated blog posts. Think of it like building a library on your website: one pillar page covers the main idea, and smaller articles support it with details. This structure helps AI understand you're an authority on the subject. This is the core of "Answer Engine Optimization" (AEO): creating content so useful, clear, and complete that AI picks it as a primary source. Search isn't just text anymore. With tools like Google Lens and multimodal AI models like Gemini, users are searching with images, voice, and follow-up questions. AI understands these formats and links them together. So what does this mean for you? It means your content should work in multiple formats: Add alt text and captions to images Include transcripts for videos and podcasts Optimize for voice queries by writing in natural, conversational language In short: make your content accessible, scannable, and adaptable. AI also personalizes search based on user history. If someone often searches for baking tips, asking "what's the best mixer" might prioritize culinary results. Your content should consider different user journeys and use cases. Table: Traditional SEO vs. AI Search Strategy Shift Element Traditional SEO AI Search Optimization Focus Keywords & rankings Topics, semantic meaning, usefulness Clicks Click-through rate (CTR) Zero-click visibility & source credibility Format Text-heavy pages Multimodal: text, images, audio, video Strategy Link-building & keyword mapping Topical authority & structured content User Behavior Short, transactional queries Complex, conversational, personalized queries Measurement Google Analytics & CTR Visibility in AI summaries, brand mentions So... Does Traditional SEO Still Matter? Absolutely. But its role has changed. SEO is no longer just about climbing the rankings. It's about being discoverable, credible, and useful enough to be included in AI-generated responses. It's about optimizing not just for humans or algorithms but for both. In other words, AI didn't kill SEO. It made it smarter. If you're still relying on outdated tactics—like stuffing keywords or chasing links without building trust—you'll likely be left behind. But if you're investing in strong technical SEO, building E-E-A-T, diversifying content formats, and focusing on real value? You're in a better position than ever. The Future of Search Is a Partnership Think of AI not as a rival to SEO, but as a new kind of search partner. One that doesn't just help people find information, but also filters and summarizes it. That means your job, as a content creator or marketer, is evolving too. You're no longer writing for a search engine. You're writing for a system that speaks, thinks, and answers like a person. In this article, we explored how traditional SEO remains essential, even as AI reshapes the rules. From crawling and indexing to E-E-A-T and topical authority, your content still needs to be optimized, but with a broader, more human approach. Because in the end, it's not just about being found. It's about being trusted. Also read: Best Digital Tools for Small Businesses in the UAE Discover essential digital tools every small business in the UAE needs to thrive—plus government support that helps them grow smarter and faster. The Importance of SEO for Startups We'll explore what SEO entails, why it's a crucial investment for any ambitious startup, and how to harness its potential to gain a competitive edge, forge lasting customer connections, and propel your venture toward long-term success. Why Local SEO Matters for Companies in Dubai By understanding and implementing effective local SEO strategies, companies can enhance their online visibility, attract more customers, and gain a competitive edge in the market. Dubai Rises as a Powerhouse for AI Startup Launches AI startups from around the world are increasingly establishing roots in the UAE, drawn by its accelerating innovation ecosystem and rising reputation as a hub for research and talent.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft Bing gets a free Sora-powered AI video generator
Microsoft Bing announced today that it is introducing the Bing Video Creator to its app, which uses OpenAI's Sora model to let users generate videos from text prompts. OpenAI, which has a longstanding partnership with Microsoft, has locked down access to Sora's video generation for paying customers only. Its integration in Microsoft Bing represents the first time that it will be available for free. At launch, Bing Video Creator is not yet available on desktop, and videos can take hours to generate, even when using the "fast" mode, which is supposed to take just a few minutes. All users, so long as they are logged into a Microsoft account, can use the Bing app to create ten video clips at no cost. Then, users have to pay 100 Microsoft Rewards points per video. These points are awarded from searching with Bing or making purchases at the Microsoft Store -- for example, 5 points are awarded for each PC search using Bing, with a cap at 150 points per day. Users can queue up to three five-second video generations at a time -- as of now, there's no way to change the length of the video. So far, videos can only be generated in a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio, perhaps priming users to share their AI creations on TikTok or Instagram. But soon, horizontal 9:16 uploads will be available as well. This article originally appeared on TechCrunch at Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft Bing gets a free Sora-powered AI video generator
Microsoft Bing announced today that it is introducing the Bing Video Creator to its app, which uses OpenAI's Sora model to let users generate videos from text prompts. OpenAI, which has a longstanding partnership with Microsoft, has locked down access to Sora's video generation for paying customers only. Its integration in Microsoft Bing represents the first time that it will be available for free. At launch, Bing Video Creator is not yet available on desktop, and videos can take hours to generate, even when using the "fast" mode, which is supposed to take just a few minutes. All users, so long as they are logged into a Microsoft account, can use the Bing app to create ten video clips at no cost. Then, users have to pay 100 Microsoft Rewards points per video. These points are awarded from searching with Bing or making purchases at the Microsoft Store -- for example, 5 points are awarded for each PC search using Bing, with a cap at 150 points per day. Users can queue up to three five-second video generations at a time -- as of now, there's no way to change the length of the video. So far, videos can only be generated in a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio, perhaps priming users to share their AI creations on TikTok or Instagram. But soon, horizontal 9:16 uploads will be available as well.
TechCrunch
6 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Microsoft Bing gets a free Sora-powered AI video generator
Microsoft Bing announced today that it is introducing the Bing Video Creator to its app, which uses OpenAI's Sora model to let users generate videos from text prompts. OpenAI, which has a longstanding partnership with Microsoft, has locked down access to Sora's video generation for paying customers only. Its integration in Microsoft Bing represents the first time that it will be available for free. Image Credits:Microsoft Bing At launch, Bing Video Creator is not yet available on desktop, and videos can take hours to generate, even when using the 'fast' mode, which is supposed to take just a few minutes. All users, so long as they are logged into a Microsoft account, can use the Bing app to create ten video clips at no cost. Then, users have to pay 100 Microsoft Rewards points per video. These points are awarded from searching with Bing or making purchases at the Microsoft Store — for example, 5 points are awarded for each PC search using Bing, with a cap at 150 points per day. Users can queue up to three five-second video generations at a time — as of now, there's no way to change the length of the video. So far, videos can only be generated in a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio, perhaps priming users to share their AI creations on TikTok or Instagram. But soon, horizontal 9:16 uploads will be available as well.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- The Hindu
A no-frills privacy browser for Google Chrome users
In March, Zoho's Ulaa browser won the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC). Ulaa enters a browser market dominated by Google Chrome. But is there something in it that could lure the user from the familiar to the untested? The Hindu tested Ulaa for you to check how this new Indian browser works and whether it meets the needs of a casual Internet surfer. Set-up Getting started with Ulaa is easy and Zoho has thought through their browser carefully before building the product. The browser allows the user to personalise the interface per their profession, age, and productivity needs. Ulaa offers Work, Developer, Personal, Open Season, and Kids modes. Users can select the mode that works best for them. Users can also choose between two levels of privacy protection — Standard and Extreme — to block ads, trackers, malicious software, and other tracking tools. They can also choose their favoured search engine, add a parental control password to the Kids Mode, import their data from another browser, and sign into other Zoho platforms. Overall, Ulaa is a product largely catering to Zoho's existing users, though others can get a meaningful experience out of it as well. User experience Web browsing with Ulaa is not too different from browsing with Google Chrome. You can watch YouTube videos, read articles online, and access social media — minus intrusive ads. Within the browser itself, users can choose from familiar search engines like DuckDuckGo, Microsoft Bing, Yahoo! India, Yandex, and Google. However, Ulaa removes ads, giving you a refreshing visual experience and saving precious minutes of your time. Zoho's browser isn't as powerful or customisable as fellow ad-free privacy browser Brave, which sometimes goes so far as to break some weaker paywalls and lets you decide whether to block scripts or not. Even so, Ulaa delivers a clean experience so that you can enjoy activities such as casual internet browsing, shopping, learning, reading, and watching videos without being obstructed by embarrassing pop-ups. We had a fine time listening to musical tracks on YouTube without being deafened by unskippable ads, reading long-form articles without being interrupted by flashing banners, and carrying out research across websites without being blocked by pesky banners. However, while the idea of a dedicated, safe Kids mode in a browser sounds excellent in theory, this is hard to implement in reality. We found that even in the password-protected Kids mode, it was easy to access mature content, including true crime websites. Ulaa wants parents to manually blacklist URLs — we don't think this is an easy ask for anyone, let alone parents. What's more, parents letting their children use Ulaa will need to spend some time and set up additional safeguards for the search engine results, regardless of whether they are using Google Search within Ulaa or a rival service such as DuckDuckGo. Tech-savvy youngsters will be able to adjust the safe search settings without an issue, even in the Kids Mode. Overall, we felt that the dedicated Kids mode could have been better locked down to prevent young users from accessing adult content and bypassing the safe search result controls. On the other hand, if you want a version of the browser that does not block ads and trackers, Ulaa's Open Season mode allows one to have this experience, though it warns that the user's privacy and safety may be compromised. Ulaa further offers an integrated note-taking function in the form of a sidebar that asks you to sign into Zoho's Notebook offering to use it, or set up a Zoho account through your existing credentials. When we created an account and tried using Notebook, we were delighted by its colourful but easy-to-use interface that lets you make lockable notes, to-do lists, reminders, and photo cards as you browse the internet. You can think of it as a very basic Google Docs offering that's built right into your browser. However, the Kids mode also required users to sign in to use Zoho Notebook to take notes, which made no sense. Coming to the browser's performance, we experienced several glitches while using Ulaa and keeping open fewer than ten tabs. These included lagging functions and slower than expected speeds, but these annoyances quickly cleared up after we updated to the latest version of the browser. Privacy and security What impressed us most about Ulaa was that the browser provided exceedingly detailed reports that let us analyse and visualise how we were being followed across the internet by an ever-growing crowd of trackers. A casual internet user will be surprised to learn that even trusted websites and workplace tools have a shockingly high number of trackers to keep an eye on your activity and glean as many insights about you as possible. Aside from this, the Ulaa privacy report showed how the browser protected users from online dangers such as gambling platforms, fake news, adult websites, malware/adware, and more. More technically inclined users and privacy advocates will certainly enjoy diving deep into the stats meticulously collected by Ulaa, so that they can learn more about how they are being tracked and blasted with risky content online as they study and work and unwind. Verdict As Google forges ahead with its Generative AI experiments, injecting every part of its user experience with AI, many internet users are on the lookout for a cleaner, clutter-free experience. Zoho's Ulaa provides an alternative as a neat, simple, and intuitive browser that can easily help users avoid advertisements and stay digitally shielded while browsing the web. On the flip side, the browser is largely aimed at Zoho customers and does not bring anything particularly innovative apart from its ad-blocking feature and privacy preservation reports. Its Kids mode also requires more work to ensure younger users can't accidentally access adult content. But in a world where internet users' privacy rights are being rapidly eroded and monetised, an effective and easy-to-use privacy browser is certainly a valuable tool to have. So, despite existing limitations, it is Ulaa's time to welcome new users.
