Semrush Launches AI Visibility Index to Redefine Enterprise Brand Discovery in the Age of AI

The rapid rise of AI-driven search is reshaping how brands connect with their audiences, disrupting billions of clicks and redefining the foundations of digital visibility. While some businesses have quickly adapted to this shift, others are struggling to keep pace. To help enterprises navigate this transformation, Semrush Enterprise has introduced the AI Visibility Index, a first-of-its-kind benchmark measuring brand performance across ChatGPT and Google AI Mode.

“AI search is likely the biggest shift in digital marketing since Google’s founding in 1998,” said Andrew Warden, CMO of Semrush. “The rules of visibility, brand discovery, and traffic were rewritten overnight. It’s no longer only about scale and quality of content but also about reinforcing trust and authority. We built the AI Visibility Index based on 2,500+ real-world prompts in both ChatGPT and Google AI Mode. This data-backed approach explores which brands are winning, why they’re on top, and provides a blueprint based on these proven tactics for how you can turn AI visibility into real competitive advantage.”

Setting a New Standard for AI Search

Powered by insights from Semrush Enterprise’s AI Optimization tool, the AI Visibility Index provides marketers with a clear, actionable view of how brands perform in AI-generated results. Using prompts across five critical industries-Finance, Digital Tech, Business & Professional Services, Fashion, and Consumer Electronics-the Index reveals not just who leads in AI discovery but also the strategies driving their success.

Also Read: Reddit Unveils New Pro Tools to Strengthen Publisher Engagement & Content Visibility

Navigating the Two Battles of AI Discovery

AI search introduces two parallel challenges for marketers:

• The Sentiment Battle: AI models increasingly rely on user-generated content such as reviews, forums, and social conversations to determine brand relevance.
• The Authority Game: Large Language Models (LLMs) validate brand mentions with authoritative sources like official websites and Wikipedia, demanding content that is factual, structured, and easily accessible.

Winning in both arenas requires consistent, trustworthy engagement across every touchpoint.

Key Insights from the 2025 AI Visibility Report

• Mentions Don’t Equal Authority: Fewer than 20% of brands succeed at being both widely mentioned and recognized as authoritative, creating a “Mention-Source Divide.”
• Community Voice Leads: Third-party opinions often outweigh brand-owned content. Different AI engines also prioritize different sources—for example, Reddit heavily influences ChatGPT results, while Google AI Mode favors authorities such as Bankrate and LinkedIn.
• Industry-Specific Playbooks Matter: The strategies that elevate a financial brand may not apply in fashion or consumer electronics, highlighting the need for tailored approaches.

Why It Matters for Marketers

The AI Visibility Index is more than a benchmarking tool-it’s a practical roadmap for success in the evolving AI search landscape. Beyond identifying industry leaders, the report explains the “why” behind their performance and provides actionable strategies for building authority, trust, and competitive advantage.