SEO traditionally explains how companies appear on Google search results, but with the rise of AI answer agents like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, it now also encompasses how these AI systems generate and present answers to consumers. SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 31, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Jason McDonald Consulting Agency, specializing in search engine optimization (SEO), digital advertising, online strategy, and expert witness services, announces a new blog post by Dr. Jason McDonald titled "What Is SEO?Why Does It Matter in Court?" Based in San Francisco and serving clients nationwide online, Dr. McDonald’s post clarifies how SEO functions, its current relevance, and its growing role in litigation, including trademark disputes. "SEO explains how companies show up on Google. Nowadays, it also must explain how AI answer agents like ChatGPT and Google Gemini create 'answers' for consumers, " said Dr. McDonald, Director of the agency. He notes an increase in enquiries related to possible litigation involving Answer Agent Optimization (AIO). The blog breaks down SEO into simple terms: once focused solely on Google, SEO is evolving due to the rise of AI answer agents, shifting toward AIO — optimizing for AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. As consumers rely more on these AI agents instead of traditional search engines, companies must adapt SEO strategies to maintain visibility. The post is available at https://jasonmcdonald. org/blog/2025/10/what-is-seo-why-does-it-matter-in-court/. SEO NOW INCLUDES AI AND ANSWER AGENTS AI and search engines are competing fronts, with AI delivering summarized information and “People Also Ask” style answers. Tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini decide what content to show and how to summarize it, acting as personal assistants that influence purchasing decisions. Consequently, SEO now involves optimizing for these AI-driven answers, not just traditional search listings. Dr. McDonald (https://jasonmcdonald. org/) is actively studying this shift. His upcoming 2026 edition of the SEO Workbook will address how SEO professionals must adjust to AI summaries and machine-generated responses. The book emphasizes content quality, site structure, and trust signals as key factors influencing AI visibility.

SEO is no longer about just appearing as blue links but about being selected by AI to form the actual “answer. ” Despite technological evolution, SEO remains a source of legal challenges. With extensive experience as an SEO expert witness, Dr. McDonald has seen disputes over online activities such as brand name violations, copied content, and deceptive marketing. SEO data can reveal intent and demonstrate harm, making it critical evidence in trademark, advertising, and unfair competition cases. Dr. McDonald also offers expert witness services to assist lawyers, judges, and juries in understanding SEO complexities. Confidential consultations are available at https://jasonmcdonald. org/seo-consultant/seo-expert-witness/. ABOUT DR. JASON MCDONALD Dr. Jason McDonald, Director of JM Internet Group, is an esteemed digital marketing authority with decades of experience and a Ph. D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of best-selling books like the SEO Workbook, Social Media Marketing Workbook, Google Ads Workbook, and Marketing: Ultimate Almanac of Free Marketing Tools. A frequent expert witness in SEO-related cases, he is also a sought-after speaker and trainer. More about his expert witness services can be found at https://jasonmcdonald. org/seo-consultant/social-media-expert-witness/ and https://www. seakexperts. com/members/11579-jason-mcdonald. Media Relations Tel. 800-298-4065 Website: https://jasonmcdonald. org # # #