Everything you knew about search optimisation has changed
Search isn’t what it was 18 months ago. It’s not even what it was last quarter.
AI Overviews dominate Google. ChatGPT answers questions without sending a single click. Perplexity cites sources algorithmically. LLMs are the new search engines, and traditional SEO tactics no longer cut it. If your brand isn’t discoverable in these AI-powered environments, you’re invisible where discovery happens now.
Enter AIO (AI Optimisation). Not a rebrand of SEO. A fundamental rethink of how brands earn visibility in the age of generative engines, zero-click environments, and LLM-powered answer synthesis. The agencies leading this space aren’t just adapting old playbooks. They’re rewriting them entirely.
We’ve identified the UK agencies genuinely pioneering AIO. These aren’t agencies with a new service page bolted on. These are teams building proprietary platforms, redefining measurement systems, and delivering visibility where AI systems actually retrieve information.
The UK’s Leading AIO Agencies: In Depth
1. Found
The AI-first Everysearch™ agency. Built for brands that want to win across every searchable platform.
Found isn’t pivoting to AI. They’ve built their entire operating model around it. While other agencies added “AI optimisation” to their service list, Found trademarked Everysearch™ and built Luminr, a proprietary AI-powered platform that tracks visibility across Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and every searchable surface where discovery happens now.
Best For
Ambitious brands that recognise search has fundamentally changed and need a partner who doesn’t just adapt to AI, they lead it.
Core AIO Services
- Brand Optimisation (Found’s framework for AI discoverability across zero-click environments)
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)
- Entity SEO and knowledge graph optimisation
- Luminr (the proprietary visibility engine tracking AI platforms)
- Digital PR engineered for citation visibility
- Multi-channel paid media optimised for AI-influenced journeys
Why They Stand Out
Found operates as the Everysearch™ agency, the first UK agency to explicitly position around AI-driven discovery as the core business model. Their Luminr platform gives clients visibility reporting across AI Overviews, LLM citations, and generative search platforms that most agencies still can’t measure. They’re not guessing. They’re tracking.
They pair technical AI optimisation with award-winning digital PR, recognising that LLMs reward citation authority as heavily as traditional search rewarded backlinks. Their SEO, Paid Media, Data & AI, and Digital PR teams work as a unified system, not siloed departments. That holistic approach isn’t marketing speak. It’s how they’re structured.
The numbers back it up. Found consistently delivers double and triple-digit uplifts in organic visibility, paid media ROAS improvements exceeding 200%, and measurable presence in AI-generated answers. Their client roster includes iconic brands across ecommerce, finance, travel & hospitality, and SaaS. They work with big brands and those that aspire to be big.
Usual Client Type
Ecommerce, B2B, SaaS, finance, hospitality, travel. Mid-market to enterprise brands serious about AI-era visibility.
Notable Differentiators
- Proprietary Luminr platform tracking AI visibility
- Trademarked Everysearch™ methodology
- Brand Optimisation framework for zero-click environments
- Award-winning multi-specialism integration
- AI-first from foundation, not retrofit
2. DEPT
Enterprise AI transformation with global scale and institutional credibility.
DEPT brings enterprise-grade AI search capability to brands operating at serious scale. As a major global agency with deep technical resources, they’ve positioned AI visibility as a core transformation service rather than a tactical add-on.
Best For
Enterprise brands needing AI search integration across complex, multi-market operations.
Why They Stand Out
DEPT operates at institutional scale. They bring the resources to implement AI visibility strategies across massive content estates, multiple markets, and complex technical environments. Their positioning around AI transformation gives them credibility with enterprise decision-makers who need partners capable of handling global rollouts.
They’re one of the few large agencies explicitly discussing AI visibility as a core service line, not an experimental offering.
Usual Client Type
Enterprise, global retail brands, major ecommerce platforms.
3. Rise at Seven
Multi-channel search-first content marketing specialists.
Rise at Seven built their reputation on creative SEO and search-first content. Their approach combines SEO, Digital PR, Social, and AI/LLM optimisation into unified strategies. They position as organic media planners creating category leaders across every searchable platform.
Best For
Brands needing integrated visibility across traditional search, social platforms (TikTok, YouTube), and AI systems (ChatGPT, Gemini).
Why They Stand Out
Rise at Seven pioneered creative SEO and multi-channel search with Digital PR. Based in Sheffield with offices in London, Manchester, and New York, they’ve delivered results for Red Bull, SIXT, JD Sports, and Parkdean Resorts. They position as pioneers who “chase consumers, not algorithms.” Their search-first content model works across traditional search, social discovery, and AI retrieval. That’s not accident. That’s strategy.
Usual Client Type
Ecommerce, travel, retail, B2B, consumer brands.
4. Mediaworks
Established enterprise search capability evolving into AI discoverability.
Mediaworks brings decades of enterprise search experience to the AI visibility challenge. They’re a long-established UK agency with serious client credibility and active positioning around AI-led search.
Best For
Enterprise brands with complex search needs looking for a trusted, established partner transitioning into AI optimisation.
Why They Stand Out
Mediaworks offers the credibility of an established agency with enterprise clients, now applying that expertise to AI search. Their thought leadership on AI-led search and authority signals demonstrates intentional positioning rather than opportunistic pivoting.
Usual Client Type
Enterprise, finance, retail, large-scale ecommerce.
5. Jellyfish
Global enterprise scale with proprietary Share of Model™ tracking.
Jellyfish operates at massive scale with Share of Model™, the first platform measuring how LLMs perceive and recommend brands, making them a natural fit for enterprise brands needing AI visibility measurement infrastructure.
Best For
Global enterprise brands needing to understand and optimise how AI models perceive their brand versus competitors.
Why They Stand Out
Jellyfish’s Share of Model™ platform tracks brand perception across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Llama, measuring recommendation frequency, sentiment, and competitive positioning. This proprietary infrastructure gives clients like Danone and Chivas Brothers the data to optimise for AI-driven discovery. Their enterprise credibility and global scale mean they can execute AI visibility strategies across complex, multi-market operations.
Usual Client Type
Enterprise, global brands, major retailers.
6. ROAST
Performance-driven search specialists now leading in AI visibility.
ROAST built their reputation on effective SEO and performance-driven organic search. That foundation translates directly into AI visibility work, where technical SEO excellence and structured content architecture determine retrieval success.
Best For
Performance-focused brands that need search expertise applied to AI platforms.
Why They Stand Out
ROAST approaches AI visibility with the same performance rigour they apply to traditional search. They’re not theorists. They’re practitioners who measure, test, and optimise. With enterprise client credibility (Experian, Rightmove, Cencora), 93% retention rate, and strong technical capability, they’re a solid choice for brands that need results, not buzzwords.
Usual Client Type
Ecommerce, B2B, enterprise brands, healthcare, finance.
7. Embryo
Manchester’s practical AI search specialists for ambitious businesses.
Embryo represents the established regional agency successfully evolving into AI visibility without losing their practical, growth-focused approach.
Best For
Brands seeking straightforward AI search growth without enterprise complexity.
Why They Stand Out
Embryo brings a no-nonsense, results-focused approach to AI visibility. They’re a trusted name in UK search with strong organic heritage now applied to AI platforms. Their straightforward, results-focused approach makes them a solid choice for brands seeking practical AI search evolution.
Usual Client Type
B2B, local enterprise, regional ecommerce, mid-market brands.
8. Koozai
Established UK SEO agency with 20 years in search.
Koozai is a recognisable name in UK search with practical AI positioning. Founded in 2006, they represent the established SEO agency successfully transitioning into the AI era.
Best For
Brands with existing SEO programmes looking to evolve into AI visibility with a trusted, established partner.
Why They Stand Out
They’ve been in UK search since 2006, building trust and delivering results for clients including TUI, NHS, V&A Museum, Papa Johns, and Cambridge University. Their AI positioning feels practical rather than hype-driven, which appeals to brands that want steady, reliable evolution rather than disruptive transformation.
Usual Client Type
Travel, healthcare, retail, education, ecommerce.
9. Kaizen
AI Visibility agency with dedicated Search-Verse™ approach.
Kaizen positions as an AI-enabled Search, PR & Social agency helping brands “conquer the Search-Verse™” across Google, TikTok, and ChatGPT. Their dedicated AI Visibility service combines LLM optimisation with search and digital PR.
Best For
Brands needing visibility across the full Search-Verse™ (traditional search, social platforms, and AI systems like ChatGPT and Gemini).
Why They Stand Out
Kaizen offers dedicated GEO/LLM SEO, ChatGPT SEO, and Gemini SEO services. They track LLM visibility, build prompt banks, use entity mapping and fan out analysis, and optimise content for AI-friendly crawling. Based in London and Manchester, they combine Search, PR, AI Visibility, and Social under their trademarked Search-Verse™ framework.
Usual Client Type
Ecommerce, travel, retail, lifestyle brands, consumer-facing businesses.
10. DAC Group
International search specialists with practical AI positioning.
DAC Group brings international search expertise and multi-market capability to AI visibility challenges.
Best For
Brands operating across multiple markets needing AI search visibility at scale.
Why They Stand Out
DAC Group’s international search background gives them the infrastructure to handle AI visibility across multiple markets, languages, and platforms. Their practical positioning and established client base provide credibility for brands expanding AI visibility globally.
Usual Client Type
Enterprise, multi-location brands, international retailers.
UK AIO Agencies at a Glance: Quick Comparison
| Agency | Best For | Key AIO Services | Sectors | UK Location |
| Found | AI-first brands needing holistic Everysearch™ visibility | Brand Optimisation, GEO/AEO, entity SEO, Luminr platform, digital PR for citation visibility, multi-channel paid media | Ecommerce, B2B, SaaS, finance, hospitality, travel | London |
| DEPT | Enterprise-scale AI transformation across complex operations | AI search integration, AI visibility as transformation service, enterprise content systems | Enterprise, global retail, major ecommerce | London |
| Rise at Seven | Multi-channel visibility across search, social, and AI | Search-first content, SEO, Digital PR, Social SEO, AI/LLM optimisation, multi-channel strategy | Ecommerce, travel, retail, B2B, consumer brands | Manchester |
| Mediaworks | Established enterprise search transitioning to AI | Enterprise search expertise, AI-led search positioning, authority signals | Enterprise, finance, retail, large-scale ecommerce | Newcastle |
| Jellyfish | Enterprise brands needing Share of Model™ tracking | Share of Model™ platform, brand perception measurement, LLM recommendation tracking | Enterprise, global brands, major retailers | London |
| ROAST | Performance-driven brands requiring proven search expertise | Performance SEO applied to AI, GEO services, technical optimisation, measurement focus | Ecommerce, B2B, enterprise, healthcare, finance | London |
| Embryo | Ambitious businesses seeking practical AI search growth | Practical AI visibility, organic search evolved for AI platforms, growth-focused approach | B2B, local enterprise, regional ecommerce, mid-market | Manchester |
| Koozai | Brands with existing SEO seeking steady AI evolution | Practical AI positioning, traditional SEO evolved for AI, established search expertise | Travel, healthcare, retail, education, ecommerce | Lee-on-the-Solent |
| Kaizen | Brands needing Search-Verse™ visibility (search, social, AI) | GEO/LLM SEO, ChatGPT SEO, Gemini SEO, prompt banks, entity mapping, Search-Verse™ framework | Ecommerce, travel, retail, lifestyle, consumer-facing | London |
| DAC Group | Multi-market brands requiring international AI visibility | International search expertise, multi-market AI visibility, cross-platform optimisation | Enterprise, multi-location brands, international retail | London |
Ready for Results That Actually Matter in AI Search?
Found operates differently. We’re the Everysearch™ agency, built AI-first from foundation, not adapted from traditional search.
Our Luminr platform tracks visibility across Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude. We measure AI Overview presence, LLM citations, entity authority, and retrieval performance.
Our SEO, Digital PR, Data, and Paid Media teams work as a unified system because AI visibility demands holistic execution, not siloed tactics.
Get in touch with Found today — the AI search agency built to help brands grow visibility where modern discovery actually happens.
This article was compiled through research of UK agencies actively working in AI optimisation, evaluated against measurable AI visibility capability, proprietary measurement infrastructure, entity optimisation expertise, and demonstrated results in AI-powered search environments. Agency selection reflects observable market positioning as of June 2026.
AIO (AI Optimisation) Agencies FAQs
Don’t stress, we’ve got
Not every agency claiming “AI optimisation” actually understands how AI systems retrieve, synthesise, and present information. Real AIO capability requires specific technical expertise, strategic frameworks, and measurable systems that most traditional SEO agencies don’t yet possess.
Here’s what separates genuine AIO specialists from agencies repackaging existing services with new labels.
Entity-Based SEO Mastery
AI systems don’t think in keywords. They think in entities (people, places, organisations, concepts, relationships). Agencies genuinely good at AIO establish clear entity definitions using schema markup, build entity relationships across content, ensure entity consistency across the web (Wikipedia, Wikidata, authoritative sources), and track entity visibility in knowledge graphs. Traditional keyword research won’t cut it. Entity mapping does.
Knowledge Graph and Semantic Authority
Getting your brand into AI knowledge representations determines whether platforms cite you, recommend you, or ignore you. Strong AIO agencies work on knowledge panel presence, Wikidata integration, citation consistency, and entity relationship mapping. They build semantic content maps covering entire topic clusters and topical authority systems that establish expertise across related concepts. Surface-level content targeting individual queries won’t earn AI visibility. Comprehensive topical authority will.
Structured Data and AI-Readable Architecture
AI systems need structured information they can reliably extract. Effective AIO requires schema markup implementation, JSON-LD structured data, clear heading hierarchies, explicit answer formatting, and data markup for key facts. If your content isn’t machine-readable, AI systems can’t reliably cite it.
Citation Engineering Through Digital PR
LLMs cite sources. Brand mentions across authoritative publishers create the signals AI systems trust. Top AIO agencies combine strategic digital PR targeting publications LLMs train on, citation consistency, authority building through tier-one publisher relationships, and brand mention tracking. The brands AI systems cite most frequently are the brands mentioned most authoritatively.
Retrieval Optimisation and Proprietary Measurement
Traditional SEO optimises for rankings. AIO optimises for retrieval. Real AIO agencies focus on answer extraction, citation-worthy formatting, zero-click optimisation, AI Overview presence, and LLM citation tracking. You can’t optimise what you can’t measure. Agencies genuinely leading AIO build proprietary measurement capabilities (AI Overview tracking, LLM citation monitoring, entity visibility dashboards, retrieval testing). Found’s Luminr platform exemplifies this.
Cross-Discipline Integration and Platform Expertise
AI visibility requires technical SEO, content strategy, digital PR, paid media, and data science working together. Siloed agencies can’t deliver this. Different AI systems prioritise different signals (Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT retrieval, Perplexity citations, Claude’s synthesis). Strong AIO agencies understand each platform’s unique behaviour.
Future-Proof Strategic Thinking
Agencies genuinely good at AIO test emerging platforms before they’re mainstream, experiment with new formats, build adaptable systems rather than platform-specific tactics, and share original insights from real testing. The agencies leading AIO aren’t chasing trends. They’re setting them.
Not all agencies claiming AIO expertise can actually deliver measurable results. As AI-driven search and discovery evolve, choosing the right partner becomes critical. Here are the key questions to ask when evaluating a potential AIO agency partner:
1. How do you measure AI visibility?
2. Show me your entity optimisation process.
3. How do you approach semantic coverage?
4. What’s your digital PR strategy for AI visibility?
5. Can you show me AI visibility results for current clients?
6. How do you stay current with AI platform changes?
7. What’s your cross-discipline integration?
