AI in SEO 2025
Survey Insights from 123 SEO Professionals on Tools, ROI & Rankings
96%
AI Powers Rankings
95%
Daily AI Adoption
72%
Strong ROI Gains
How This Survey Was Conducted
To understand the real-world impact of AI in SEO, we conducted a global survey targeting SEO professionals across roles and experience levels.
Outreach: We reached out SEO professionals through email campaigns, LinkedIn outreach, and Meta ads.
- Format: The survey was conducted entirely online using a structured multiple-choice questionnaire.
Sampling: While the survey used a non-random, voluntary response approach, efforts were made to ensure a diverse sample across geographies and roles.
Respondent Regions: Participants came from across the globe, including India, USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and the UAE (Dubai).
Response Count: We received a total of 123 valid responses, which formed the basis of the insights presented in this report.
This methodology was designed to ensure that the insights reflect current trends and usage patterns from active SEO professionals using AI in real-world scenarios.
Purpose of this SEO Survey
As a fast-growing SEO services provider in the global business landscape, CodeRenowned conducted this survey to explore how SEO professionals are adopting AI tools across different experience levels, the impact on search performance, and their expectations for the future of SEO in an AI-driven landscape. With AI reshaping how content is created, optimized, and ranked, this study captures real-world insights directly from practitioners in the SEO field.
Survey Role Distribution Among SEO Professionals
Among 123 SEO professionals surveyed, 32% are SEO Specialists, 30% are SEO Executives, 20% are Managers, 10% are Consultants, while Freelancers, Interns, and Agency Owners make up the remaining 8%.
Key Highlights
- 95% of respondents use AI tools like ChatGPT daily for SEO tasks.
- 96% reported that AI-generated content has helped their Google rankings.
- 80% have successfully ranked AI-assisted content on Page 1 of Google.
- 72% achieved at least 2× ROI, with 37% reporting 3–5× ROI.
- 100% of respondents use ChatGPT, making it the most adopted AI tool in SEO workflows.
- The most common uses of AI were in On-Page SEO, Content Optimization, and Off-Page SEO.
With Google’s rollout of Search Generative Experience (SGE) and the increasing presence of AI-powered answer engines, the SEO landscape is undergoing a major transformation. Content created or enhanced using AI is no longer penalized as long as it’s helpful, original, and experience-driven.
This shift means that AI isn’t replacing SEO, it’s redefining it. Human creativity, paired with AI efficiency, is now a competitive edge. The survey results signal a turning point: AI is not just a trend, but a core driver of scalable, performance-first SEO strategies in 2025 and beyond.
Survey Demographics
| Role Overview | Most Common Experience Range | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Role | % | Responses | Experience |
| SEO Freelancer | 1% | 1 | 4–7 years |
| SEO Executive | 30% | 37 | 1–3 years / 4–7 years |
| SEO Specialist | 32% | 41 | 4–7 years |
| SEO Manager | 20% | 24 | 8–10 years |
| SEO Consultant | 10% | 12 | 10+ years |
| Agency Owner | 2% | 2 | 10+ years |
| SEO Intern | 5% | 6 | Less than 1 year |
| Total Responses | 123 | ||
What SEO and AI Tools are Most Commonly Used by SEO Professionals in 2025?
Based on our survey with SEO professionals, AI tools have become an essential part of daily SEO operations. Here are the most commonly used AI tools:
SEO Tools Usage
AI Tools Usage
The survey reveals a clear shift in SEO workflows toward AI integration. While traditional tools like Ahrefs (85%), SEMrush (71%), and Moz (55%) remain widely used, AI tools are rapidly gaining ground. ChatGPT leads with 100% adoption, followed by Jasper (54%) and Writesonic (41%), indicating a strong preference for AI in content generation and optimization. The comparison highlights how SEO professionals are now blending legacy platforms with AI-powered tools to boost efficiency, scale output, and stay competitive in 2025.
How Frequently Do SEO Professionals Use AI Tools in Their Workflow?
AI Tool Usage Frequency in SEO
The survey shows that 95% of SEO professionals use AI tools daily in their workflows, making it an integral part of modern SEO practice. A small portion uses AI weekly (7%) or rarely (1%), while none reported never using AI. This highlights the growing reliance on AI as a daily driver of SEO productivity and performance.
Which SEO Tasks Are Most Commonly Performed Using AI Tools?
93% of respondents use AI for on-page SEO, followed closely by content optimization (89%) and off-page SEO (66%). Even technical SEO tasks see growing adoption, with 35% using AI to streamline audits and improvements. This shows AI isn’t just a writing tool, it’s becoming a full-scale SEO assistant.
AI Productivity Comparison Across SEO Roles
| SEO Role | Avg. Productivity Score (1–10) | Key Use Cases of AI |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Executive | 8.5 | On-page SEO, content ideas, keyword clustering |
| SEO Specialist | 9.0 | Content optimization, SERP analysis, briefs |
| SEO Manager | 7.8 | Strategy planning, automation, AI writing review |
| SEO Consultant | 8.2 | Audit reporting, insights, task streamlining |
| Freelancer / Agency Owner | 9.1 | Client delivery, scaling content, research |
survey reveals that SEO Specialists and Freelancers report the highest productivity gains, using AI for everything from keyword clustering to scalable content creation. Meanwhile, Managers and Consultants use AI more strategically, for planning, reporting, and streamlining tasks. No matter the role, AI is clearly transforming workflows across the board.
Did AI Content Improve SEO Rankings for Most Professionals?
An overwhelming 96% of SEO professionals reported that AI-generated content helped improve their rankings. Only 2% saw negative effects, while another 2% noticed no change. This reinforces that when used strategically with research, AI content is not just acceptable, it’s driving real performance in search.
How Much Do SEO Professionals Rely on AI in Their Workflows?
| Role | Avg Reliance Score (1–10) | Number of Respondents |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Freelancer | 8.5 | 1 |
| SEO Executive | 7.2 | 37 |
| SEO Specialist | 8.1 | 41 |
| SEO Manager | 7.5 | 24 |
| SEO Consultant | 7.8 | 12 |
| Agency Owner | 7.0 | 2 |
| SEO Intern | 6.8 | 6 |
Survey reveals that SEO Specialists (8.1/10) and Consultants (7.8/10) show the highest average reliance on AI tools, closely followed by Managers and Executives. Even Interns report notable usage (6.8/10), confirming that AI is now deeply embedded across all levels of SEO practice, streamlining tasks from content to strategy.
Is AI Content Ranking on Page 1 of Search Engine?
Ranking Impact
A remarkable 80% of SEO professionals say their AI-driven content frequently ranks on Page 1 of search engine, while only 4% report never seeing such results. With just 5% not tracking rankings, it’s clear that AI-generated content is not only visible, it’s dominating search results when done right.
AI in SEO: Would You Recommend It?
| SEO Role | Yes, strongly | Yes, with caution | No | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEO Executive (37) | 27 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| SEO Specialist (41) | 31 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| SEO Manager (24) | 18 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| SEO Consultant (12) | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Agency Owner (2) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SEO Intern (6) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| SEO Freelancer (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A significant majority of SEO professionals across all roles are confidently recommending AI tools. From executives to consultants, over 85% said yes (strongly or with caution), showcasing a clear industry-wide endorsement of AI growing value in SEO workflows.
Want to explore our SEO services or discuss how AI can drive results? Reach out