Introduction

AI assistants don’t treat websites equally. They pick favorites, and those favorites often don’t match what people actually search for.

What's the problem it solves?

Most people think AI assistants pull answers from the same websites we trust in regular search. But they don’t. This article uncovers which sites are shown more or less often by Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity-revealing bias that could affect who gets seen and who doesn’t.

Quick Summary

The article looks at how three major AI tools-Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity-choose which websites to show in their answers. Instead of only counting how often a site is mentioned, the study compares that number with how often the site should appear based on how popular its topics are. This shows if AI tools are favoring or ignoring certain websites.

The findings show that Google’s AI mentions Reddit, Quora, and YouTube far more than expected, while sites like Wikipedia and trusted health sources appear less often. ChatGPT also under-uses Wikipedia and Reuters. Perplexity, on the other hand, is the most balanced, showing websites close to how popular they are in regular search.

The main idea is that search is changing fast. It’s no longer just about ranking in Google. If websites want to be seen, they may need to think about how AI assistants choose what to show-and start adapting to that new world.

Key Takeaways from the article

• Google AI often shows Reddit and Quora more than trusted sources
• Wikipedia appears less than expected in both Google AI and ChatGPT
• Perplexity gives the fairest visibility to websites
• Mention Share vs Impression Share shows real AI bias
• ChatGPT shows fewer news and educational sites than it should
• AI tools don’t always reflect what people are actually searching for
• Site visibility now depends on AI logic, not just Google SEO
• Reddit’s deal with Google may explain its boost in mentions
• Perplexity’s results match web popularity more than others
• Businesses must now optimize for AI systems, not just search engines

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