New SEO Study Reveals AI Citations Differ From Google Rankings

A recent report analyzed over 18,000 search queries to compare how top AI systems cite web domains versus traditional Google search results.

The study focused on three major AI tools: Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Google Gemini, uncovering key differences in their citation patterns compared to Google’s domain rankings.

Perplexity Leads in Domain Overlap With Google

Perplexity AI showed the highest similarity to Google, with a 25-30% median domain overlap. It shared about 43% of its cited domains with Google results.

This aligns with Perplexity’s design as a live web retrieval tool, making its citations resemble traditional search rankings more closely.

ChatGPT and Gemini Show Lower Overlap

ChatGPT had a smaller median domain overlap of 10-15% and shared about 21% of cited domains with Google. This reflects its reliance on pre-trained data and inference rather than live web crawling.

Google’s Gemini showed the least overlap, with about 4% domain similarity to Google results. This highlights Gemini’s unique approach to content retrieval and citation.

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Implications for Marketers and SEO Strategy

The report highlights that different AI systems interpret and value content differently. Marketers should recognize that AI citations do not always mirror Google rankings, impacting SEO strategies for content visibility.

Leveraging insights from multiple AI perspectives can help optimize content for broader discoverability in AI-powered search results.

The growing role of AI in search makes understanding these citation differences crucial for brands seeking to boost organic reach both on traditional search engines and emerging AI platforms.

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