AI news story

How to check if ChatGPT and other AI tools cite your website - and improve your chances in 2026

SEO is not dead. Here's how to get cited more often and boost search visibility in AI tools today.

  • AI
  • Source: ZDNet
  • Published: 2026-07-20

Editor's take

Search engine optimization techniques are being adapted to ensure websites are recognized and cited by generative AI models, aiming to improve visibility in future AI-driven search experiences.

This development signals that content creators and businesses must proactively manage their digital footprint, as AI's growing role in information retrieval could significantly impact organic traffic and brand presence. Companies like Google, with its Search Generative Experience (SGE), and OpenAI, whose models power many emerging AI tools, are directly influencing how users will discover information, making SEO more critical than ever for visibility.

Future watchpoints include the evolution of AI citation metrics and whether specific metadata or structured data formats become industry standards for AI training and referencing. The potential for AI to prioritize certain sources based on optimization efforts, and the long-term impact on search result diversity, remain key questions.