AI Search Platforms
AI answer engines retrieve web pages, generate an answer, and link some of their sources. Each platform documents a different amount about how this works. Entries in this section state only what is documented, and label everything else.
Start here
Section titled “Start here”- Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — what the term means and how Google positions it.
- Google AI Overviews — eligibility, fan-out, reporting and controls.
- Configure robots.txt for AI crawlers — decide which AI crawlers may access your site.
- Search generative AI control — leave AI Overviews and AI Mode without leaving Search.
- Google Search AI feature changes — what Google has changed, with dates.
- Preferred sources — how users can choose to see more of a site, including in AI features.
- Claim: seeding brand mentions across the web boosts AI visibility — what Google says about manufactured mentions.
- Google Discover — interest-based feed: eligibility, images and the AI control.
- Google AI features vs ChatGPT search vs Perplexity — Google, ChatGPT search and Perplexity side by side: crawlers, opt-outs, reports.
- Which sources Chinese AI assistants cite — which sources Doubao, DeepSeek, Yuanbao, Qwen, Kimi and Wenxin cite, by date.
Platforms
Section titled “Platforms”| Platform | Crawler / control documented | Wiki entry |
|---|---|---|
| Google AI Overviews & AI Mode | Googlebot; snippet controls | Google AI Overviews |
| ChatGPT search | OAI-SearchBot (OpenAI) | Configure robots.txt for AI crawlers |
| Perplexity, Copilot | — | planned |
Open questions
Section titled “Open questions”- Does llms.txt improve AI visibility?
- Does structured data change AI citations? (research proposal)
Entries in this topic
Concepts
- Google AI OverviewsAI Overviews are AI-generated summaries shown on some Google results pages, with links to supporting pages. A page needs to be indexed and snippet-eligible, and the site must stay included in Search's generative AI features (the default). Traffic is reported inside Search Console's Web search type, and snippet controls apply.
- Query fan-outQuery fan-out is Google's term for the related sub-queries its AI features issue in parallel to gather more supporting pages for an answer. Google documents the technique. It warns that producing separate pages for fan-out variations to manipulate rankings or AI responses violates its scaled content abuse policy.
Reference
- Google DiscoverIndexed content that meets Discover's content policies is automatically eligible for Discover, with no special markup, though eligibility is no guarantee. Google recommends large images at least 1200px wide and titles without clickbait. Discover traffic is less predictable than search traffic and should be treated as supplemental.
- Preferred sourcesUsers can mark sites as preferred sources in Google Search. Their content becomes more likely to appear in Top Stories and can carry a "preferred" badge in AI Mode and AI Overviews. Only domains and subdomains are eligible, and the AI features also require the site to be included in Search generative AI features.
- Search generative AI controlSince August 31, 2026, any site can use a Search Console setting to leave AI Overviews, AI Mode and Discover's generative AI features. Google states it is not a ranking or inclusion signal for the rest of Search and does not affect AI training. Exclusion takes effect within a few days.
Claim checks
Comparisons
- Google AI features vs ChatGPT search vs PerplexityGoogle's AI features draw on Google's search index, and sites opt out with a Search Console control. ChatGPT search relies on OAI-SearchBot and Perplexity on PerplexityBot. OpenAI says blocking its bot keeps a site out of search answers; Perplexity only recommends allowing its bot to appear. Of the three, only Google documents a site-owner report, and user-triggered fetchers may ignore robots.txt.
- Which sources Chinese AI assistants citeEvery study found that Chinese assistants favour their own group's content, and few sources are shared across platforms. Preferences shift; DeepSeek narrowed and then widened its sources within a year. The studies are mostly non-public vendor reports, so treat them as dated observations and test your own category and city.