In a recent LinkedIn post, Ann Smarty raises serious questions about the validity of certain AI visibility claims circulating online, urging businesses to exercise caution and perform due diligence.
Smarty shared an observation about a screenshot that purportedly shows a significant increase in AI visibility, even surpassing established industry giants like Salesforce and Zendesk within a mere six weeks. This claim, which she accompanied with an eye-roll emoji, immediately triggered her skepticism.
“I grew my client’s AI visibility from 15% – 40% in 6 weeks”
Questioning the Metrics Behind AI Visibility
The core of Ann Smarty’s concern lies in the potential for manipulation of metrics. She highlights the importance of understanding the underlying methodology when presented with such dramatic results.
As Ann Smarty argues, the critical question for any business owner seeing such claims should be about the tracking methods employed. She suggests that impressive-sounding visibility figures can be achieved through less-than-rigorous means.
“Because I can show better results in visibility without doing anything and just adding a new branded prompt every week :)”
This statement underscores Smarty’s point that simply introducing new branded prompts, without necessarily a substantial underlying strategy or genuine impact, could inflate visibility metrics in certain tracking systems. She implies that the ‘visibility’ might not equate to meaningful business outcomes or genuine market penetration.
The ‘Insane’ GEO/AEO Industry
Ann Smarty characterizes the current landscape for AI-driven visibility, particularly within the GEO (Geographic Optimization) and AEO (App Store Optimization) sectors, as chaotic. She uses strong language to convey her concern about the prevalence of potentially misleading information.
“This GEO/AEO industry is insane!!!!”
According to Ann Smarty, this environment makes it difficult for businesses to discern genuine progress from inflated or fabricated results. She implores companies not to blindly accept such claims at face value.
A Call for Due Diligence
Ann Smarty’s message is a clear call for critical evaluation. She advises businesses to conduct thorough research before investing in services that promise rapid and extraordinary AI visibility gains.
In Ann Smarty’s view, the temptation to believe in overnight success stories in the AI space is high, but the potential for disappointment and wasted resources is equally significant. Her post serves as a cautionary tale, encouraging a more grounded and analytical approach to evaluating AI performance metrics.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Ann Smarty on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on June 17, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →