Comparison
Local SEO vs AEO
Option one
Local SEO helps you appear in Google search and map results when people search by service and location.
Option two
AEO helps your business appear in direct answers from Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other answer engines.
Foundry verdict: You need both. Local SEO captures existing demand; AEO makes your business easier for machines to understand and recommend.