How long before Google SEO no longer exists?

[DustyBawls]

I've just read about Google's updates regarding AI mode and it's surely only a matter of time before backlinks are a thing of the past and Google runs completely on AI for their results.

You'll have a website and Google will scrape it and then use the AI to simply determine if it's valuable.

Nothing about backlinks, H tags, DR, DA etc - surely they will be defunct.

 

[Deleted member 1603965]

backlinks are a thing of the past

They kind of already are on conventional small or medium blogs!

 

[Venusaur]

2027 - for the first time, most people are using AIs instead of search engine
2028 - it becomes deprecated
2029 - SERP is partially deactivated
2031 - SERP is globally deactivated

source: voices of my head

 

[DustyBawls]

2027 - for the first time, most people are using AIs instead of search engine
2028 - it becomes deprecated
2029 - SERP is partially deactivated
2031 - SERP is globally deactivated

source: voices of my head

I guess there will need to be some results page, as otherwise websites will be less important.

But even sites such as Wikipedia could be no longer needed.

 

[Steptoe]

I've just read about Google's updates regarding AI mode and it's surely only a matter of time before backlinks are a thing of the past and Google runs completely on AI for their results.

You'll have a website and Google will scrape it and then use the AI to simply determine if it's valuable.

Nothing about backlinks, H tags, DR, DA etc - surely they will be defunct.

From the recent Google antitrust document evidence releases, it looks like AI is only running it's DeepRank and RankBrain systems, and everything else is still hand tuned by engineers and human raters, and uses 'ABC' signals - Anchors - links, Body - terms in document, Clicks - dwell/bounce etc

Source attached.

 

[DustyBawls]

From the recent Google antitrust document evidence releases, it looks like AI is only running it's DeepRank and RankBrain systems, and everything else is still hand tuned by engineers and human raters, and uses 'ABC' signals - Anchors - links, Body - terms in document, Clicks - dwell/bounce etc

Of course - for now. But I don't think it needs much imagination to see it's only a matter of time before it's completely AI and hunting for backlinks is a thing of the past.

 

[Steptoe]

Of course - for now. But I don't think it needs much imagination to see it's only a matter of time before it's completely AI and hunting for backlinks is a thing of the past.

Sure, and people have been saying the same thing of Google for the past decade, yet little has changed fundamentally. Things will work until they don't.

 

[OnlineProxyIO]

Google SEO isn’t going anywhere,its just taking a new shape.With AI changing how content gets surfaced,its more about being genuinely useful than trying to hit all the old SEO checkboxes,backlinks and structure still count,but now its quality and intent that really move the needle.If you’re creating original,helpful content that actually answers what people are searching for - you’re already on the right track

 

[GenesisOne]

As soon as everyone is capable of doing telepathy

 

[DIAMOND CREST]

I hear you AI snippets are on the rise, but backlinks aren’t going anywhere yet. Google still uses link signals to gauge trust and authority, even if AI features steal some real estate. Focus on solid content first, then back it up with targeted link-building. AI will become another layer, not a complete overhaul.

 

[moonshine7000]

As soon as everyone is capable of doing telepathy

We are borg resistance is futile

 

[MISTER_]

I also think that one day everyone will use Ai to get there infromation.

Business will still be arround so the industry will just evolve into optimizing for Ai.

Ppl already figured it out.

From the recent Google antitrust document evidence releases, it looks like AI is only running it's DeepRank and RankBrain systems, and everything else is still hand tuned by engineers and human raters, and uses 'ABC' signals - Anchors - links, Body - terms in document, Clicks - dwell/bounce etc

Source attached.

Here also good point for it.


In the end the data for the Ai still needs to come from somewhere and that will likely be the open web, and they can make it easy for themself by using other data aggregator for it.

To rank for AIO is just optimizing your text for it.

Havent ranked tried to rank GPT, and co, but also saw ppl metiond that Branded Anchors are the way to rank for it.

Asked one time GPT where it got the suggestion for a local service, and it just straight up told me it got it from different directory.


Google will likely just leverage there own systems like Google Maps and Google Shopping for it.

In Google Maps links are relevant.

About Google Shopping I have no clue.

 

[Jesseluxs]

If you’re building sites now, especially long-term ones:

Invest in truly useful content, not filler or AI spam.

Optimize for humans first, search engines second.

Build brand-level trust: social presence, reviews, consistent identity.

Use backlinks as a bonus, not a crutch — a few relevant, trusted links are better than 1,000 junk ones.

Think in terms of user intent, not just keywords.

 

[MetaSpark SEO]

Interesting insight! Google’s AI evolution might truly shift SEO focus from backlinks to pure content quality and user value.

 

[DustyBawls]

Interesting insight! Google’s AI evolution might truly shift SEO focus from backlinks to pure content quality and user value.

I see it as only a matter of time and will be sooner than people think.

Google's goal is get the best content to the people searching for it.

 

[bartosimpsonio]

Those google AI answers showing up at the top of SERPs give zero credit to their sources. It's pretty much over IMO, as if we didn't have enough zero click searches already.

 

[PitchQueen]

Google’s future search may rely solely on AI to assess content value, making backlinks and traditional SEO metrics like DA/DR obsolete.

 

[DustyBawls]

Those google AI answers showing up at the top of SERPs give zero credit to their sources. It's pretty much over IMO, as if we didn't have enough zero click searches already.

At the moment - it will all improve.

 

[i_touseef]

Fair enough, maybe SEO’s not dying, just evolving into something way less predictable, AI nd all....

 

[GlobalProxy4g]

I've just read about Google's updates regarding AI mode and it's surely only a matter of time before backlinks are a thing of the past and Google runs completely on AI for their results.

You'll have a website and Google will scrape it and then use the AI to simply determine if it's valuable.

Nothing about backlinks, H tags, DR, DA etc - surely they will be defunct.

This thread is a great spot to insert a subtle but smart reply. You could point out that while Google’s shift toward AI might devalue traditional signals like backlinks, it’s actually making behavioral signals even more important. Some setups are already simulating traffic from mobile proxies to create interaction footprints,not for CTR manipulation, but to “train” Google's indexing behavior models. Think geo-consistency, scroll depth, session time. It’s not about links anymore, but what the visit looks like. Just share that observation without selling anything, and you're 100% safe.