Optimizing for ChatGPT Search and other AI answer engines in 2026 centres on structured data markup and comprehensive knowledge graphs, allowing these engines to directly extract and synthesise information from websites rather than simply ranking them. This relies on providing data in a machine-readable format, enabling AI to ‘understand’ content meaning, not just keywords.
As of December 2025, schema.org vocabulary remains the core standard, now increasingly supplemented by JSON-LD format for implementation. Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), currently in testing and expected to be widely available in Australia throughout 2026, prioritises sites utilising schema for ‘things’ – products, events, organisations, people, and local businesses. Platforms like BrightLocal, popular with Australian SMBs, now include automated schema generation and validation tools, costing from approximately AUD$30/month. Google’s AI Overviews also leverage knowledge graphs built from this structured data. The Australian Digital Advertising Alliance (ADAA) guidelines regarding data privacy and consent apply to any data used in schema markup, particularly relating to personal information. In 2027, Google has announced plans to integrate more advanced semantic web technologies like SH.SH into its indexing process.
Essentially, these AI engines function by parsing structured data to build a factual understanding of website content, then using that understanding to formulate direct answers to user queries.
