DeepSeek opens in-house search engine to developers — authority-tiered results raise GEO stakes

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Chinese AI lab DeepSeek has opened its in-house search engine to developers, with each result carrying a page-level authority tier. The company says the system filters out generative engine optimisation (GEO) manipulation, a claim worth testing as answer engines become a distribution channel. Search and SEO teams should watch how the tiering works and whether it reshapes visibility for brands outside China.