Google search is in flux. Organic traffic is shrinking, ad costs are climbing, and AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini are quietly becoming the first stop for decision-making. While most agencies are still clinging to old playbooks, Opollo has moved first, striking a partnership with Semrush Enterprise to bring its new AI Optimisation (AIO) solution to Australia.
The move gives Opollo a claim to fame: it’s the first Australian digital marketing agency to embrace AIO, a system designed to keep brands visible as AI reshapes how people search.
Why It Matters
Search is no longer just about keywords and backlinks. AI engines are rewriting results, summarising pages, and sometimes skipping links altogether. For businesses that rely on digital visibility, this means disappearing from the conversation.
“Traffic is dropping, ad spend on Google is up more than 20%, and yet it’s still not working,” said Steven Morey, Opollo founder and CEO. “The future has arrived, so we acted fast. Look up GPT, AI SEO, AEO, AIO—it’s happening right now.”
That urgency rings true. According to Semrush, businesses across sectors are already seeing diminishing returns from traditional SEO and pay-per-click. The answer, Opollo argues, isn’t to spend more but to pivot smarter.
What AIO Brings to the Table
Backed by Semrush Enterprise, Opollo’s AI-first playbook targets IT and managed service provider (MSP) businesses—sectors under pressure to cut costs but remain highly visible online. AIO tools work by analysing how AI-driven search engines surface information, then tailoring strategies that align with AI models, not just Google’s algorithm.
For clients, that means:
- Staying present in AI-generated answers.
- Avoiding runaway Google Ads budgets.
- Regaining ROI in an increasingly noisy digital market.
As Christian Knolder, Senior Account Manager at Semrush Enterprise, put it: “The real impact of AIO is helping clients stay visible and relevant in a market where AI platforms are already shaping decisions. With Opollo leading this charge, Australia’s digital businesses now have a genuine first-mover advantage.”
Industry Context
The shift is real:
- Google Ads spend is up 20% in six months—but click-through rates are falling.
- AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini are being used as decision engines, not just research tools.
- Early adopters of AIO may claim visibility while laggards watch their digital footprint vanish.
Globally, agencies are scrambling to redefine SEO. In the U.S., firms are experimenting with Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO). In Europe, publishers are exploring ways to monetise AI summaries. Opollo’s move gives Australia a front-row seat in this industry-wide recalibration.
What’s Next
To underline its first-mover advantage, Opollo is hosting an exclusive AIO Webinar on October 1, 2025, aimed at businesses eager to understand—and capitalise on—the AI search shift.
For an industry long addicted to the Google-AdWords-SEO cycle, this marks a pivotal moment. AIO may not be a silver bullet, but for now, it’s the sharpest tool available to fight back against ballooning ad costs and evaporating traffic.
The question isn’t whether AI will reshape search. It’s whether your business will still be visible when it does.
