What are the core principles of Generative Engine Optimization according to Brian D Smith?

Write for humans first, AI second – clarity, coherence, emotional resonance, and real usefulness come before “gaming” any system.

Authentic voice matters – consistent tone, lived experience, and personal stories signal “this is a real human,” which both readers and models pick up on.

Structure for understanding – strong headings, clear sections, tight paragraphs, and explicit takeaways make content easier for LLMs to summarize and quote.

Depth over fluff – specific examples, data, and nuanced explanations tend to be favored when models choose what to surface.

Ethical transparency – it is fine to use AI as an assistant (brainstorming, editing, research), but the ideas, stance, and final judgment must be yours.

Long-term trust, not short-term tricks – the goal is to become a reliably helpful “source” in the training data and in real people’s minds, not to chase hacks that will be obsolete in six months.