Real ChatGPT answer · index seedOKaW2jluh3UcompleteMarketing and advertising · AI search and generative engine optimizationcomparison
How do search generative engines decide which sources to cite in their answers, and can I optimize my blog posts to win those spots?
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Fan-out diagram
The searches the AI actually ran for this prompt.
SEED QUERY
How do search generative engines decide which sources to cite in their answers, and can I optimize my blog posts to win those spots?
3 real searches · 1 real-search pass
generative engine optimization GEO research citation selection retrieval sources study 2024 2025 2026Google ↗
OBSERVEDOther / navigational
Google AI Overviews content guidance structured data crawling helpful content documentationGoogle ↗
OBSERVEDOther / navigational
OpenAI ChatGPT search publishers crawler OAI-SearchBot documentation citationsGoogle ↗
OBSERVEDOther / navigational
Badge and edge weight = share of passes that produced the query. Hover a query for its intent and routing format.
Query classes
Google's semantic query class for every sub-query: what kind of answer each search is after, simulated vs real.
ChatGPT real searches (3)
Classes come from the query-classifier (a local Laya model). 3 of 3 calls are low-confidence (under 50%) — hover a query in the table to see its confidence.
Searches and sources
ChatGPT3 real searches · gpt-6
generative engine optimization GEO research citation selection retrieval sources study 2024 2025 2026 Google ↗
Google AI Overviews content guidance structured data crawling helpful content documentation Google ↗
OpenAI ChatGPT search publishers crawler OAI-SearchBot documentation citations Google ↗
- [2509.08919] Generative Engine Optimization: How to Dominate AI Search · doi.org
- What Drives AI Citations? Content, Retrieval and Model Knowledge in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) · arxiv.org
- Overview of OpenAI Crawlers · developers.openai.com
- Publishers and Developers - FAQ · help.openai.com
- AI Features and Your Website | Google Search Central | Documentation | Google for Developers · developers.google.com
- From Citation Selection to Citation Absorption: A Measurement Framework for Generative Engine Optimization Across AI Search Platforms · arxiv.org
- Optimizing Visibility in Generative Engines: A Critical Survey of Generative Engine Optimization (2023-2026) · arxiv.org
- Google Search's Guidance on Generative AI Content on Your Website | Google Search Central | Documentation | Google for Developers · developers.google.cn
- Creating Helpful, Reliable, People-First Content | Google Search Central | Documentation | Google for Developers · developers.google.cn
Queries
3 queries · click a column to sort
| Query / type | Search | Intent | Query class | Routing format | Cluster | Freq ↓ | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
generative engine optimization GEO research citation selection retrieval sources study 2024 2025 2026 OBSERVED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | — | Other / navigational | — | — | 1x of 1 | |
Google AI Overviews content guidance structured data crawling helpful content documentation OBSERVED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | — | Other / navigational | — | — | 1x of 1 | |
OpenAI ChatGPT search publishers crawler OAI-SearchBot documentation citations OBSERVED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | — | Other / navigational | — | — | 1x of 1 |