What this means
Decomposing a user question into multiple related searches or subqueries.
Historical record
Perplexity introduces Q2D-Web for large-scale retrieval evaluation in agentic RAG
The visible user prompt is not necessarily the query a source competes for. AI visibility therefore depends on several distinct stages: query reformulation, first-stage retrieval, ranking, evidence selection, and eventual citation.
Google publishes official guidance for generative AI Search visibility
Practitioners gained first-party guidance separating verified requirements from speculative AEO/GEO tactics.
Google expands AI Mode and Deep Search using query fan-out
Topical completeness, subtopic relevance and retrieval across multiple intents become central to AI search visibility.
Google introduces AI Mode and describes query fan-out
Visibility is no longer tied only to the user’s literal query; sources can be discovered through hidden subqueries and related retrieval paths.