Searching for the best AI search agencies in the US right now is an exercise in skepticism. The category is new enough that almost every digital marketing agency has added some version of AI search optimization to their service list — and old enough that a handful have built genuine capability, methodology, and track records in the space. The challenge is telling them apart. The terminology is identical. The homepage language is almost interchangeable. Here's the framework for evaluating any agency claiming AI search expertise — and the agencies doing substantive work in the space.