Does structured data and schema markup really help improve AI search visibility now?

Many SEO experts recommend using structured data to help search engines better understand website content. With AI search becoming more common, does schema markup play a role in helping websites appear in AI-generated answers and summaries?

Yes,  structured data and schema markup are still important, even with AI search becoming more common. They help search engines understand your content better by clearly explaining what a page is about, whether it's a service, product, article, FAQ, review, or something else. The clearer that information is, the easier it is for search engines and AI systems to interpret it correctly.

That said, I wouldn't rely on schema markup alone to improve AI search visibility. It's more of a supporting element than something that will automatically get your content featured in AI-generated answers. In my experience, the biggest difference still comes from creating useful content, covering topics in depth, and building authority in your niche. When you combine those efforts with well-implemented schema markup, you're giving search engines and AI platforms a much better understanding of your website and its content.

From my experience, structured data and schema markup are definitely worth implementing, even with the rise of AI search. They help search engines better understand what a page is about by providing clear information about products, articles, FAQs, reviews, organizations, and other content types. This makes it easier for search engines and AI systems to interpret the content accurately.

That said, I don't think schema markup alone is enough to improve AI search visibility. It's more of a supporting factor than a direct ranking signal. I've found that websites with high-quality content, a clear site structure, strong topical authority, and well-implemented schema are generally in a better position to be understood by both traditional search engines and AI-powered search experiences. So, I see schema markup as an important part of a complete SEO strategy rather than a shortcut to appearing in AI-generated answers.