Getting found on Google search results is obviously still a necessity, but getting mentioned in AI-generated answers is becoming increasingly important as ChatGPT, and other AI tools like it, become a part of our everyday lives.
Artificial intelligence is changing how people search for information. AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are becoming more common sources for answers, so it makes sense to adjust your content strategy now rather than later.
I spent two whole days reading (and trying to understand) Stephen Wolfram’s complete and very detailed explanation of how ChatGPT works.
This article is my take on the key insights (in simple terms) and provides you with some steps you can take to help get your content mentioned in AI answers.
Shortcuts:
- Why Getting Mentioned in AI-Generated Answers Matter
- Basic Explanation of How ChatGPT Works
- Steps to Structure Content for AI Conversational Search
- FAQ: AI-Driven Search
- 5 Key Takeaways
Source: master.of.code
How Many Searches Does ChatGPT Get Everyday?
On average, ChatGPT gets an impressive 10 million queries per day, but it pales in comparison to Google, which gets nearly 6 million queries per minute. 🤯
The types of questions asked of ChatGPT are endless, but there are some clear winners and use cases that rise to the top as shown in the graphic above.
People seem to be in desperate need of help writing everything from social media posts to long-form articles and essays (including this one), but as we can see here, there is still much unknown.
Source: SEMRush
Beyond writing assistance, users frequently turn to ChatGPT for coding help, research summaries, and troubleshooting technical issues.
Additionally, the model is widely used for brainstorming creative ideas, generating marketing copy, and answering complex questions in a conversational way.
Why Getting Mentioned in AI-Generated Answers Matter
AI-generated answers are different from traditional Google search results. While Google ranks pages based on keywords, backlinks, and domain authority, AI models like ChatGPT pull information based on how well it aligns with natural language queries and contextual understanding.
This means that even if your website ranks well on Google, it might not appear in AI-generated responses unless the content is structured in a way AI can quickly process.
It also means you don’t have to contend with paid ads, affiliate links, and outright scams that are so pervasive on Google these days.
Optimizing your site for AI-driven search, or AEO, ensures that your content is referenced in conversational AI tools, voice search, and future AI-powered search engines.
Balancing optimization for traditional search engines and AI-driven search models gives your business the best chance of reaching more users.
Basic Explanation of How ChatGPT Works
- How ChatGPT Generates Responses
- How ChatGPT Learns
- What ChatGPT Understands (and What It Doesn’t)
- What ChatGPT Limitations Are
Wolfram broke down how ChatGPT generates responses in intricate detail so we can see how and why certain types of content get mentioned more often.
Knowing and understanding the following basics can help you structure your content so AI tools can view it more effectively, hoping to show up in AI-generated responses more frequently.
1. How ChatGPT Generates Responses
ChatGPT predicts the next word based on patterns it has seen in past data. It does not have the ability to think rationally or irrationally at all. It’s guessing at one word and then assuming what word should come next and so on.
This makes it good at writing human-like text but it also means it can sometimes get things wrong.
- Word Prediction: ChatGPT builds sentences one word at a time, choosing the most likely next word based on past examples.
- Adding Variety: ChatGPT sometimes selects words that are less likely to make responses sound natural instead of always picking the most obvious word.
2. How ChatGPT Learns
AI models like ChatGPT are trained on massive amounts of existing text from books, websites, and other sources.
It learns how words and ideas fit together, allowing it to generate logical responses even if they don’t truly 'understand' the meaning.
- Reading Lots of Text: ChatGPT is trained on books, articles, and websites to recognize language patterns.
- Breaking Text Into Pieces: It processes text in chunks (called tokens) to better understand different words and phrases.
What this means is that what AI can learn and predict is limited. For example, content that was produced today, last week, or even last month is not considered in responses.
3. What ChatGPT Understands (and What It Doesn’t)
While ChatGPT can generate meaningful text, it doesn't truly understand concepts. Instead, it recognizes patterns and predicts words based on past data.
This means it can sometimes produce incorrect or misleading information.
- Recognizing Patterns, Not Meaning: ChatGPT doesn’t truly understand words like humans—it predicts what sounds right based on patterns.
- Grouping Related Words: It connects similar words and phrases, helping it generate relevant responses.
4. What ChatGPT Limitations Are
Since ChatGPT relies on pre-existing data, it has some important limitations. It can generate incorrect or outdated information and may reflect biases in the content on which it was trained.
- Doesn’t Think Like a Human: ChatGPT doesn’t have thoughts or opinions—it just predicts what to say based on training data.
- Might Be Wrong or Biased: Because it learns from internet content, it can sometimes give incorrect or biased information.
Steps to Structure Content for AI Conversational Search
- Create Helpful, Well-Organized Webpages
- Use Keywords and Topics Related to One Another
- Make Your Content Easy to Read
- Add Internal and External Links
- Include AI-Friendly Summaries
- Focus on Evergreen Content
- Use Schema Markup to Help AI Understand Better
- Optimize for Natural Language Queries
Now that you know how ChatGPT works, you can take these 8 steps to make your content more likely to be used in AI-generated search results.
The key is to structure your information in a clear, relevant, and easy way for AI models to interpret. Here’s how to make your website more likely to be referenced in AI-generated responses.
1. Create Helpful, Well-Organized Webpages
AI tools like ChatGPT favor content that is detailed and well-structured. If your website provides clear, well-organized information, it has a better chance of being referenced in AI-generated responses.
ChatGPT pulls from structured and informative content, so make sure your pages are clear and useful.
Source: ElegantThemes
Actionable Tips:
- Write detailed, helpful articles on topics in your industry.
- Avoid short or vague content—give complete, well-explained answers.
2. Use Keywords and Topics Related to One Another
Since ChatGPT understands words in context rather than just exact keyword matches, using related terms helps your content appear in more AI-driven searches.
AI tools don’t just match exact keywords; they also understand related terms.
Actionable Tips:
- If you’re targeting “HIPAA compliant forms,” also use phrases like “secure online forms” and “patient data privacy.”
- Think about how people ask questions and include natural, conversational phrasing.
3. Make Your Content Easy to Read
AI models prefer well-structured text that is easy to scan. Using clear headings, bullet points, and simple language makes your content more accessible to both users and AI-driven tools.
AI tools prefer well-structured content that’s easy to scan.
Source: BrandWell
Actionable Tips:
- Use clear headings (H1, H2, H3) to break up sections.
- Add bullet points and lists to make key points stand out.
- Highlight key insights in bold or italics.
4. Add Internal and External Links
Links help establish credibility and context. AI tools recognize well-linked content as more authoritative and are more likely to pull from it. AI values content that’s well-connected to other relevant pages.
Actionable Tips:
- Link to related articles on your website.
- Get backlinks from trusted sources to improve credibility.
5. Include AI-Friendly Summaries
Since AI often summarizes longer text, structuring your content with clear takeaways and summaries increases the chance of your information being referenced. AI usually provides short summaries of longer articles.
Source: POWR
Actionable Tips:
- Include a quick summary at the start or end of your article.
- Add FAQ sections with simple, direct answers.
- Write “key takeaways” for easy reference.
6. Focus on Evergreen Content
ChatGPT is trained on data that may be months old, so long-lasting, informative content is more likely to remain relevant in AI-generated search results.
ChatGPT’s training data isn’t always up to date, so timeless content has more staying power.
Actionable Tips:
- Write about long-term topics rather than short-term trends.
- Keep older content updated so it stays relevant.
7. Use Schema Markup to Help AI Understand Better
Structured data like schema markup helps AI models understand the type of content on your page, making it easier for AI-driven search tools to recognize and reference your content.
Adding structured data helps AI models interpret your pages more effectively.
Source: HubSpot
Actionable Tips:
- Use schema markup (FAQ, How-to, Article, Product, Review, etc.).
- Add structured metadata to clarify your content’s purpose.
8. Optimize for Natural Language Queries
AI tools process queries in a conversational way, so your content should be written in a natural, easy-to-understand tone that answers common questions directly.
AI processes search queries in a conversational way, so write content that sounds natural.
Actionable Tips:
- Phrase content like real-life questions and answers (e.g., “What’s the best web hosting for small businesses?”).
- Format key sections in a Q&A style to match AI-generated responses.
- Consider how people speak in voice search and adjust wording accordingly.
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-powered tools like ChatGPT are changing how people search for information, so it's important to adapt your content strategy.
- Unlike Google, AI models pick answers based on how naturally they fit a question, not just keywords or backlinks.
- To get mentioned in AI-generated answers, make your content clear, well-organized, and easy to understand.
- Adding helpful links, summaries, and timeless information makes your content more likely to be used by AI.
- Optimizing for both Google and AI-driven search helps your business stay visible and reach more people.
FAQ: AI-Driven Search
1. How does ChatGPT decide what information to include in its responses?
ChatGPT generates responses based on patterns it has learned from large datasets of text. It predicts the most relevant and likely next words based on context but does not perform real-time internet searches.
2. Can I directly influence whether ChatGPT references my website?
While you can't control ChatGPT’s training data, you can increase the likelihood of your content being referenced by following SEO best practices, creating detailed and well-structured content, and ensuring your site is linked to authoritative sources.
3. Does ChatGPT prioritize certain types of websites over others?
ChatGPT tends to pull information from well-structured, widely cited, and authoritative websites. Websites with high domain authority, well-organized content, and clear schema markup are more likely to be referenced.
4. How often does ChatGPT update its knowledge?
ChatGPT is trained on data that may be several months old, meaning it doesn’t have real-time access to new content. Updating your evergreen content regularly ensures it remains relevant for AI-generated responses.
5. What role does structured data play in AI optimization?
Structured data, like schema markup, helps AI models understand the type of content on a webpage. Using structured data for FAQs, articles, and products can improve AI-driven search visibility.
6. Should I optimize my content differently for ChatGPT vs. traditional search engines?
While many SEO principles apply to both, optimizing for ChatGPT means focusing on natural language, question-based queries, and well-structured, informative content that AI models can easily summarize.
7. Will AI-driven search replace traditional search engines?
AI-driven search is growing, but traditional search engines remain essential. Businesses should optimize for both by ensuring their content is discoverable by AI models while also ranking well in search engines.
8. How can I measure the success of my AI-driven search optimization efforts?
Monitor your organic search traffic, engagement metrics, and backlinks to authoritative sources. AI-driven traffic may not be as easily trackable, but increased visibility in voice search and AI-powered tools can be indicators of success.
9. What does AEO stand for?
AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization. It refers to optimizing content so that AI-driven search engines and conversational AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity can easily find and use it in their responses.
About the author:
I'm Mick and I run the growth team at POWR. We make no-code apps and plugins for e-commerce shop owners and small businesses globally. Last I checked, we have over 18 million POWR apps in the wild and in every country on Earth 😎
My career spans two decades, primarily in growth marketing and advertising with stints in broadcast television, healthcare marketing, and copy editing.
I went to the College of Journalism at the University of Louisiana - Monroe. My wife Elizabeth, son Gavin, and pup Jolene (yes, only Jolene gets in the picture lol) call Lafayette, Louisiana, home.
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