Consumers are increasingly asking ChatGPT and other AI assistants instead of typing queries into Google. That behavioral shift is changing product discovery, and Berlin based Peec AI just raised $21 million in a Series A round to help brands compete where conversational AI now decides what to recommend. With roughly $4 million in annual recurring revenue and about 1,300 customers, Peec AI positions itself as a Generative Engine Optimization platform that focuses on AI visibility and conversational content optimization.

Why brands must rethink search

Search used to be about links and rankings. Conversational AI delivers distilled answers and direct recommendations. That means visibility is no longer only about SERP position but about whether and how an assistant mentions or recommends your brand. Important concepts to consider include E E A T, schema markup, source attribution, RAG and vector search readiness, entity optimization and zero click outcomes.

New challenges for marketers

• Less transparency because assistants aggregate and synthesize information from many sources, making source attribution vital.
• Loss of click through traffic as AI gives direct answers and removes the need to visit brand pages.
• Reputation risk when an assistant summarizes a brand incorrectly or omits key context.

Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO, is emerging to address these issues by tracking when assistants surface brand relevant content, identifying which sources influence answers, and prescribing actions to improve how models present products and messaging.

What Peec AI offers

Peec AI provides a dashboard and analytics suite designed for the AI assisted search era. Reported capabilities include:

• Visibility tracking that logs when conversational assistants mention a brand or product.
• Source attribution that maps websites, reviews and data feeds that influence model responses.
• Sentiment and framing analysis to measure whether mentions are positive, neutral or negative.
• Actionable recommendations such as content updates, structured data and partnerships with trusted data providers to improve AI citations.

Key numbers from the report include a Series A of $21 million, about $4 million in ARR and some 1,300 customers. Investors include firms such as Singular and Antler.

Implications for marketing and product discovery

1. From ranking to resonance Traditional SEO tactics focused on keywords and ranking may yield diminishing returns when assistants provide direct answers. Brands must optimize content for model readability and citation by focusing on entity driven signals and topical authority.
2. New metrics and workflows Visibility in AI search requires monitoring mentions, tracing influencing sources and remediating errors through prompt ready FAQs, LLM readable citations and updated structured data.
3. Platform dynamics AI platforms control architectures and retrieval layers. That creates negotiation points and dependencies. GEO tools help brands understand which sources feed assistants but do not remove platform level power.
4. Costs and ROI Investment in GEO tooling, schema markup and data integrations must be justified by conversion impact. Smaller businesses should pilot efforts that prove value before broader rollouts.

Practical next steps for brands

• Audit where conversational assistants currently mention your products and measure sentiment.
• Improve structured data and schema markup so content is more likely to be parsed and cited by models.
• Boost E E A T signals by surfacing expertise, clear authorship signals for LLMs and authoritative citations.
• Prepare prompt ready FAQs and LLM readable citations to increase chances of accurate and favorable mentions.
• Consider RAG and vector search readiness if your content supports retrieval augmented generation workflows.
• Track AI visibility and source attribution with GEO compliant content and analytics to defend discovery and reputation.

Conclusion

Peec AIs funding round highlights a turning point: search is shifting from links to conversations and brands must adapt or risk invisibility. GEO platforms give the measurement and response layer that marketers need to understand how they appear in AI generated answers. Organizations that treat AI visibility as a core part of their marketing stack will have a strategic advantage as conversational assistants become the default entry point for many consumers.