AgenticGEO: A Self-Evolving Agentic System for Generative Engine Optimization
On the map: LLM agents and tool use → Web, search, and research agents
also in 1 more
Abstract (arXiv)
Generative search engines represent a transition from traditional ranking-based retrieval to Large Language Model (LLM)-based synthesis, transforming optimization goals from ranking prominence towards content inclusion. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), specifically, aims to maximize visibility and attribution in black-box summarized outputs by strategically manipulating source content. However, existing methods rely on static heuristics, single-prompt optimization, or engine preference rule distillation that is prone to overfitting. They cannot flexibly adapt to diverse content or the changing behaviors of generative engines. Moreover, effectively optimizing these strategies requires an impractical amount of interaction feedback from the engines. To address these challenges, we propose AgenticGEO, a self-evolving agentic framework formulating optimization as a content-conditioned control problem, which enhances intrinsic content quality to robustly adapt to the unpredictable behaviors of black-box engines. Unlike fixed-strategy methods, AgenticGEO employs a MAP-Elites archive to evolve diverse, compositional strategies. To mitigate interaction costs, we introduce a Co-Evolving Critic, a lightweight surrogate that approximates engine feedback for content-specific strategy selection and refinement, efficiently guiding both evolutionary search and inference-time planning. Through extensive in-domain and cross-domain experiments on two representative engines, AgenticGEO achieves state-of-the-art performance and demonstrates robust transferability, outperforming 14 baselines across 3 datasets. Our code and model are available at: https://github.com/AIcling/agentic_geo.
Key facts. Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Web, search, and research agents, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use. Builds on 20 of its 60 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 2 Mar 2026.
Builds on
20 of 60 references.
References · 20
- 2022Training language models to follow instructions with human feedbackcited by 15,712
- 2024DeepSeekMath: Pushing the Limits of Mathematical Reasoning in Open Language Modelscited by 8,851
- 2019BERTScore: Evaluating Text Generation with BERTcited by 5,462
- 2023Reflexion: Language Agents with Verbal Reinforcement Learningcited by 4,064
- 2023Self-Refine: Iterative Refinement with Self-Feedbackcited by 3,317
- 2016MS MARCO: A Human Generated MAchine Reading COmprehension Datasetcited by 1,591
- 2020Leveraging Passage Retrieval with Generative Models for Open Domain Question Answeringcited by 1,203
- 2023Quantifying Language Models' Sensitivity to Spurious Features in Prompt Design or: How I learned to start worrying about prompt formattingcited by 778
- 2023Promptbreeder: Self-Referential Self-Improvement Via Prompt Evolutioncited by 521
- 2022Teaching language models to support answers with verified quotescited by 290
- 2023AdaPlanner: Adaptive Planning from Feedback with Language Modelscited by 193
- 2025A Comprehensive Survey of Self-Evolving AI Agents: A New Paradigm Bridging Foundation Models and Lifelong Agentic Systemscited by 177
8 more
- 2024AgentGen: Enhancing Planning Abilities for Large Language Model based Agent via Environment and Task Generationcited by 80
- 2025AgentEvolver: Towards Efficient Self-Evolving Agent Systemcited by 77
- 2022Shopping Queries Dataset: A Large-Scale ESCI Benchmark for Improving Product Searchcited by 58
- 2025EvoAgentX: An Automated Framework for Evolving Agentic Workflowscited by 43
- 2024Manipulating Large Language Models to Increase Product Visibilitycited by 24
- 2025MobileSteward: Integrating Multiple App-Oriented Agents with Self-Evolution to Automate Cross-App Instructionscited by 16
- 2025Generative Engine Optimization: How to Dominate AI Searchcited by 16
- 2024A Multi-AI Agent System for Autonomous Optimization of Agentic AI Solutions via Iterative Refinement and LLM-Driven Feedback Loopscited by 13
Built on by
Citing papers per year: 2026: 6.
6 papers.
- 2026How Much Can We Trust LLM Search Agents? Measuring Endorsement Vulnerability to Web Content Manipulationcited by 6
- 2026ScienceFlow: A long-horizon agent for ML research, scientific discovery and beyondcited by 3
- 2026When Optimization Becomes Manipulation: Defending Generative Search against Malicious Generative Engine Optimizationcited by 1
- 2026Mechanism Design for Generative Engines: From Exploitation toward Win-Win Outcomescited by 0
- 2026Scoring Without the Engine: Validating a Deterministic, Manipulation-Resistant Content Score for Generative Engines, End to Endcited by 0
- 2026Mixture of Self-Improving Branches For Agent Harness Optimizationcited by 0
- 2026Mixture of Self-Improving Branches For Agent Harness Optimization29 Sep 2026
- 2026Scoring Without the Engine: Validating a Deterministic, Manipulation-Resistant Content Score for Generative Engines, End to End7 Sep 2026
- 2026When Optimization Becomes Manipulation: Defending Generative Search against Malicious Generative Engine Optimization2 Sep 2026
- 2026ScienceFlow: A long-horizon agent for ML research, scientific discovery and beyond14 Aug 2026
- 2026Mechanism Design for Generative Engines: From Exploitation toward Win-Win Outcomes11 Aug 2026
- 2026How Much Can We Trust LLM Search Agents? Measuring Endorsement Vulnerability to Web Content Manipulation15 Jun 2026
Similar, not cited
Close in wording, no citation either way
- 2026Agent2UCB: Agentic System for Generative Engine Optimization
- 2026Beyond Retrieval: Modeling Confidence Decay and Deterministic Agentic Platforms in Generative Engine Optimization
- 2025A Comprehensive Survey on Reinforcement Learning-based Agentic Search: Foundations, Roles, Optimizations, Evaluations, and Applications
- 2025EvolveSearch: An Iterative Self-Evolving Search Agent
- 2026Optimizing Visibility in Generative Engines: A Critical Survey of Generative Engine Optimization (2023-2026)
- 2026SE-Search: Self-Evolving Search Agent via Memory and Dense Reward
- 2026Beyond the Vacuum: Combinatorial Strategy Selection for Competitor-Aware Generative Engine Optimization ↗
- 2026Frontier-Eng: Benchmarking Self-Evolving Agents on Real-World Engineering Tasks with Generative Optimization