Real ChatGPT answer · index seedzjiti8GjjqwcompleteMarketing and advertising · AI search and generative engine optimizationinformational
Can you explain how ChatGPT and other LLMs decide which sources to cite so we can update our content guidelines today
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Fan-out diagram
The searches the AI actually ran for this prompt.
SEED QUERY
Can you explain how ChatGPT and other LLMs decide which sources to cite so we can update our content guidelines today
4 real searches · 1 real-search pass
OpenAI ChatGPT search how sources citations selected official documentation search citations sourcesGoogle ↗
OBSERVEDInstruction
Google AI Overviews sources selection helpful content documentation site:developers.google.comGoogle ↗
OBSERVEDOther / navigational
Microsoft Copilot citations sources web search documentationGoogle ↗
OBSERVEDOther / navigational
Perplexity how citations sources selected official help centerGoogle ↗
OBSERVEDReason
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 (4)
Classes come from the query-classifier (a local Laya model). 4 of 4 calls are low-confidence (under 50%) — hover a query in the table to see its confidence.
Searches and sources
ChatGPT4 real searches · gpt-6
OpenAI ChatGPT search how sources citations selected official documentation search citations sources Google ↗
Google AI Overviews sources selection helpful content documentation site:developers.google.com Google ↗
Microsoft Copilot citations sources web search documentation Google ↗
Perplexity how citations sources selected official help center Google ↗
- Creating Helpful, Reliable, People-First Content | Google Search Central | Documentation | Google for Developers · developers.google.com
- Searching the web with ChatGPT · help.openai.com
- Web search · developers.openai.com
- How web search works in Microsoft Copilot Chat and agents · support.microsoft.com
Queries
4 queries · click a column to sort
| Query / type | Search | Intent | Query class | Routing format | Cluster | Freq ↓ | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OpenAI ChatGPT search how sources citations selected official documentation search citations sources OBSERVED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | — | Instruction | — | — | 1x of 1 | |
Google AI Overviews sources selection helpful content documentation site:developers.google.com OBSERVED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | — | Other / navigational | — | — | 1x of 1 | |
Microsoft Copilot citations sources web search documentation OBSERVED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | — | Other / navigational | — | — | 1x of 1 | |
Perplexity how citations sources selected official help center OBSERVED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | — | Reason | — | — | 1x of 1 |