A Belgian SME should target Google AI Overviews first, ChatGPT second and Perplexity third. The order follows audience size, not fashion.
According to Sundar Pichai, AI Overviews exceed 2 billion monthly users. ChatGPT claims 1.2 billion weekly users (OpenAI, 29 September 2026). Perplexity handles more than 1 billion queries per month (mid-2026).
Here is how to compare them and how to split your effort.
monthly users of AI Overviews (Alphabet)
monthly queries on Perplexity (mid-2026)
The three AIs head to head
All three draw on clear, sourced content, but not with the same reach or the same speed.
| Criterion | Google AI Overviews | ChatGPT | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audience | More than 2 bn monthly users | 1.2 bn weekly users | More than 1 bn queries per month |
| In Belgium | Live since 26 March 2025 | Available in French | Available in French |
| Link to your pages | Yes, sources displayed | Sometimes | Always, numbered sources |
| Typical target | General public, all searches | Advice, comparison, writing | In-depth research, B2B |
This table shows a key point: the largest audience is not the one that sends the most qualified visits. AI Overviews reach everyone but often answer without a click. Perplexity, which is smaller, shows every source with a link, making it a small but highly targeted channel.
For a Belgian SME, the question is therefore not "which one should I choose?" but "how much energy should I put into each?" The answer depends on your customers: local consumers, businesses, or both.
In what order should you work?
Start with the AI that reaches the most local customers, then widen your scope.
- 1. Google AI Overviews — they appear on the search your customers already run, and build on your Google rankings.
- 2. ChatGPT — the "recommend me a provider" reflex is increasingly common there.
- 3. Perplexity — a narrower audience, but citations are always linked: useful in B2B and for decision-makers.
If you sell to consumers in a specific town (restaurant, hotel, estate agency), 80% of your effort goes to AI Overviews, because that is what your customers see. If you sell to other businesses (consulting, IT, industry), shift more towards ChatGPT and Perplexity, where decision-makers do their in-depth research.
A single project serves all three: clear, sourced, well-structured pages.
What works everywhere
All three engines reward the same thing: an answer that is easy to extract and easy to verify.
- A direct answer at the top of each section — 1 to 3 sentences before any elaboration.
- Lists and tables — the easiest formats to cite.
- Dated figures with a source link — verifiable proof.
- Schema.org — Article, FAQPage, LocalBusiness.
- Third-party mentions — reviews, directories, press: see the complete GEO guide.
AI Overviews rely on the Google index: a poorly ranked site will rarely be cited there. That is why classic SEO remains the foundation, and GEO its extension. For Google's conversational version, also read our AI Mode guide, rolled out in more than 200 countries since October 2025.
Avoid two common mistakes: producing different content for each AI (pointless and costly), and tracking a single isolated result (answers vary from one attempt to the next).
A 4-step action plan
One month is enough to lay the foundations and measure a first effect.
- Week 1 — run the 6-question test on all three AIs.
- Week 2 — rewrite your 3 key pages with a direct answer, a list and sourced figures.
- Week 3 — add schema.org and align your Google listing, website and directories.
- Week 4 — repeat the test and compare. Timelines vary: see timelines by engine.
Record each result in a simple table: AI, question, cited yes or no, sources cited, competitors cited. After a month, you will know which AI you are already making progress on and which still needs work. It is this comparison, repeated every month, that lets you adjust how you split your effort rather than guess.
Your questions about the three AIs
Which AI should a Belgian SME target first?
Google AI Overviews, because it has been live in Belgium since 26 March 2025 and appears on the Google search your customers already use. ChatGPT comes second, and Perplexity third for a professional or technical audience.
Do you need different content for each AI?
No. All three draw on the same clear content: a direct answer at the top of the page, lists, sourced figures, schema.org and mentions on third-party sites. Only the timing and the sources cited vary.
Is Perplexity useful for a local SME?
Yes, especially in B2B: it always cites its sources with a link, which generates qualified visits, and it reacts quickly to new content. Its audience is, however, much smaller than that of ChatGPT.
How do you measure your visibility on these three AIs?
Ask each AI 6 questions that are representative of your customers, 2 to 3 times, and note whether you are cited. Repeat the test every month to track the trend.
Should you give up classic SEO for these AIs?
No. AI Overviews rely on the Google index, and AI answers draw on well-ranked pages. SEO remains the foundation; GEO is its extension.
Choose your priorities, then take action.
We carry out a complete diagnosis of your visibility in AI — sources cited, competitors, pages to restructure — and hand you an action plan.