For years, SEO professionals treated monthly search volume as the compass that guided every strategy. We picked topics, set priorities, and measured the potential of a keyword almost exclusively by that number.
But by 2025, that approach feels outdated. Google isn’t just showing blue links in the SERPs anymore. It now presents results through features like AI Overviews and AI Mode (already live in some regions), delivering direct, AI-generated summaries instead of a list of links.
Meanwhile, users are shifting their behavior. Increasingly, they’re asking questions directly to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity rather than typing into a search bar. In this context, searches aren’t keywords anymore, they’re conversational prompts. And right now, there’s no reliable public data to tell us the “volume” of those queries.
If you’re waiting for your SEO tool to catch up with the trend… you’re already behind.
Why Predictive SEO Matters
Predictive SEO doesn’t sit around waiting for data to confirm a trend. It takes the lead.
- It spots early signals using tools like Google Trends or AnswerThePublic.
- It creates content before the metrics are visible, by tapping into Reddit, X, Quora, Feedly, niche forums, or Google News.
- It’s optimized for conversations, thinking about how a user would phrase a question to a chatbot — or how Google might condense an answer in AI Overviews.
The First-Mover Advantage
In this new world of conversational search, being the first source cited by an AI model is a huge competitive edge.
Once a chatbot or Google references your content in its responses, dislodging it becomes extremely difficult.
How to Adapt Today
- Keep an eye on forums and social platforms to spot weak signals early.
- Write answers to complex questions that are clear, structured, and genuinely helpful, the way an AI assistant would.
- Shift your focus to intent, not exact keywords: create content that solves problems, not just content that ranks.
Conclusion
Predictive SEO is the strategy that ensures your brand shows up in AI-driven answers.
It’s no longer just about hitting Google’s front page. It’s about becoming the trusted source that AI models cite when users ask questions. That’s the real visibility frontier in 2025.
At Making Science, our SEO & Content team has already made this approach to the foundation of how we create and optimize content.
👉 So let me ask you: are you making sure your brand — or your clients’ brands — appears in AI’s answers?
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