TL:DR; It’s insanely expensive to power AI and store all the billions upon billions of crappy AI-generated content on a daily basis – so Google are choosing instead NOT to index and rank crappy content. SEO is NOT dead – but crappy content is toast!

Is SEO Dead in 2025? (Spoiler: Hell no!)

The whispers have been circulating for years: “SEO is dead!” But like a persistent zombie (and I for one cannot wait for 28 years later!), SEO keeps rising from the grave. In fact, in 2025 – despite the rise of the machines that have come at us like a juggernaut in 2024 (ChatGTP, Gemini, Perplexity et al) – SEO is more alive and kicking than ever.

The Changing Landscape of Search

Sure, unless you’ve been walking around with your eyes and ears closed all year then you can’t have missed seeing huge changes with the rapid implementation of what I’d call “consumable AI”.

And… not it’s not just a way to make yourself cute images but

in the SEO landscape this year. Google’s algorithms are getting smarter, AI is playing a larger role in search results, Bing is grabbing at a massive market share – and even the previously ‘ignored’ DuckDuckGo is scooping up new users. It’s no longer good enough just to court Google – the Search Engine landscape is being blown wide-open – but, really – not much has changed. It’s still about quality and giving users what they want.

And, the way people search for information* is changing. But that doesn’t mean SEO is dead. It just means it’s evolving.

*People are now frequently asking AI to answer questions – but, this has limited value in the online business niche where what you’re selling as a service provider or as a coach requires more than just an answer a machine can chuck out – plus – can we talk about the fact very few people actually trust AI?

The Cost of Data in the AI Era

One factor that’s often overlooked in the “SEO is dead” debate is the sheer cost of data. In 2025, with the rise of AI and the explosion of online content, storing, indexing, and processing data is becoming increasingly expensive – inhibitively so – to the point that right now – the majority of AI services are LOSING money.

The big tech players are just throwing cash at it to see who will win the battle to dominate the market – and that’s why you’re seeing such rapid shifts in what they’re offering. They’re all just in a testing phase really because they can’t afford to sit back and watch and learn from others to find out what people want to use. Early indications have shown over 60% of users don’t trust the AI results – but, the big tech companies just can’t afford to take their foot off the gas right now in terms of experimentation.

Data centres are massive consumers of energy, and the environmental impact of powering these facilities is a growing concern. As the cost of energy rises, so too does the cost of running search engines – which – even for a business with the cash reserves of Google – isn’t an interesting business case.

So what are they doing?

Essentially they’re calling time on indexing and ranking crappy data. With an explosion of AI-generated content running into the billions daily – it simply doesn’t make business sense for Google to spend money on storing all this data.

What it means is – if you’re creating good content – that makes sense in context to your business – then yes, it’s going to get ranked – just like it always was. Caveat: You’d better make sure you’re operating with a keyword strategy and not just creating content for the sake of creating content.

Crank out AI garbage? It’ll likely get binned.

Why SEO Matters More Than Ever

In this environment, SEO becomes even more crucial for businesses. Why? Because it helps search engines understand and prioritise your content (your experience, your expertise and your trustworthiness) rather than the AI garbage.

By optimising your website and content for relevant keywords, you’re making it easier for search engines to find and index your pages and serve them up to the people who are asking the question.

This means your content is more likely to appear in search results, even in the face of rising data costs. Your answer may form part of an AI-generated overview with a link to your content. Like I said earlier, in our ‘industry’ – potential clients are seeking in-depth solutions and not 100 word overviews which barely graze the topic.

The Rise of AI and the Importance of Quality Content

AI is playing an increasingly important role in search, but it’s not replacing SEO. In fact, AI is making SEO even more important – especially when using a high-targeted keyword strategy approach.

But – there are of course players who are spinning AI articles – and asking the AI to generate the keywords.

Trouble is… people aren’t machines – and, unless you understand the topic in its entirety – it’s highly unlikely you’re going to be able to pick great keywords – and/or produce a logical and factually correct article. No matter how many times you ask ChatGTP to re-write it!

The human element will always shine through!

AI algorithms are designed to identify and prioritise high-quality, relevant content. This means that if you want your content to be seen in 2025 – you need to focus on creating content that is informative, engaging, and valuable to your audience. And yes, it is helpful to use AI to get you started with your content (it’s great for brainstorming or giving structure) – but, to separate it from all the other AI-generated articles, you need to take some time to edit it, fact check (ugh, I hate that phrase! 😉 ) – and just make sure it’s actually delivering on your promise.

SEO: The Key to Sustainable Online Success

Because of rising data costs, an increased knowledge of ecological and climate concerns – and rapidly evolving and sophisticated search algorithms, SEO isn’t going anywhere.

It’s the key to ensuring your content is seen by your target audience and driving sustainable online growth month after month, year after year.

So, if you’re still wondering, “Is SEO dead in 2025?” the answer is a resounding NO! In fact, SEO is more alive and essential than ever.

If you’re wondering “Is Social Media marketing dead in 2025?”… well… listen to the whispers in your niche. Now, there’s a canary in the coal mine!

Ready to embrace the power of SEO and future-proof your online presence? Let’s chat!