AI search visibility checklist: ChatGPT search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews/AI Mode and Gemini
Short answer: each AI search product has a different way in. ChatGPT search depends on OAI-SearchBot, Perplexity on PerplexityBot, and Google AI Overviews and AI Mode on normal Google Search indexing via Googlebot. Gemini Apps grounding is governed by the Google-Extended token. This checklist lists what each company documents, then gives a repeatable way to record what the assistants actually say about you.
Sources checked on 15 November 2026. Links are at the end.
Why this question
On 15 November 2026, Google autocomplete for "ai search visibility" suggested tools, checker, audit and consultant, and "how to show up in chatgpt" and "how to rank in ai overviews" returned many variants. People want a checklist they can run themselves.
Part 1: access (per platform)
| Platform | Token / requirement | What the official docs say |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT search | OAI-SearchBot |
Sites opted out of OAI-SearchBot won't be shown in ChatGPT search answers, though they can appear as navigational links. Allow the bot and its published IP ranges. robots.txt changes take about 24 hours. GPTBot (training) is separate. |
| Perplexity | PerplexityBot |
Used to surface and link sites in results, not to train foundation models. Allow it and its IP ranges; changes can take up to 24 hours. Perplexity-User fetches pages for a user's request and generally ignores robots.txt. |
| Google AI Overviews / AI Mode | Googlebot + indexing |
No additional requirements beyond being indexed and eligible to show a snippet. nosnippet, data-nosnippet, max-snippet and noindex control what can be shown. |
| Gemini Apps | Google-Extended |
Google-Extended lets publishers manage whether crawled content may be used to train future Gemini models and for grounding in Gemini Apps and Grounding with Google Search on Vertex AI. It does not affect inclusion or ranking in Google Search. |
Access checklist
- [ ]
/robots.txtloads as plain text and doesn't disallowOAI-SearchBot,PerplexityBotorGooglebot. - [ ] You've made a deliberate choice on
GPTBotandGoogle-Extended. Blocking Google-Extended can keep your content out of Gemini Apps grounding but doesn't affect Google Search. - [ ] Your CDN or firewall bot settings don't block OpenAI's or Perplexity's published IP ranges.
- [ ] Key pages are indexed in Google Search Console and not marked
noindexornosnippet.
Part 2: content (applies everywhere)
- [ ] Each service page answers the main buyer question in its first paragraph, in text. Google lists textual content as a best practice.
- [ ] Prices, location and contact details appear as text, not only in images.
- [ ] Structured data (Organization, Service, FAQPage) matches the visible page. Google says no special schema is needed for AI features.
- [ ] Internal links connect the home page, services, pricing and guides.
- [ ] Your name, services and prices match across your site and your profiles.
Part 3: measurement (repeatable)
- Keep 10 fixed questions and never reword them between runs.
- Run them in ChatGPT search, Perplexity, Google (watch for an AI Overview or use AI Mode) and Gemini on the same date each month.
- For each answer, record: were you named, were you cited (which URL), and who else was named.
- Open the sources. Perplexity shows numbered citations; Gemini Apps may show a Sources button; Google says AI feature traffic is counted in Search Console's Performance report under the "Web" search type.
- Answers vary and citations can be wrong (OpenAI and Google both say to check sources), so compare trends across months, not single runs.
Related guides
- How to get cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews
- How Perplexity cites sources
- robots.txt and llms.txt for AI crawlers
- What a GEO audit includes
If you'd rather have it done, a GEO audit runs 25+ buyer questions and these checks for $149, delivered in 48 hours (pricing).
Sources
- OpenAI, "Overview of OpenAI Crawlers": https://platform.openai.com/docs/bots (checked 2026-11-15)
- OpenAI Help Center, "Searching the web with ChatGPT": https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9237897 (checked 2026-11-15)
- Perplexity, "Perplexity Crawlers": https://docs.perplexity.ai/guides/bots (checked 2026-11-15)
- Google Search Central, "AI features and your website": https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features (last updated 2025-12-10; checked 2026-11-15)
- Google, "Google's common crawlers" (Google-Extended): https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/google-common-crawlers (last updated 2026-10-30; checked 2026-11-15)
- Gemini Apps Help, "Double-check responses" / "View related sources": https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/14143489 (checked 2026-11-15)
Frequently asked questions
Which crawler controls ChatGPT search?
OAI-SearchBot. OpenAI says sites that opt out of it won't be shown in ChatGPT search answers. GPTBot is a separate training crawler.
Does blocking Google-Extended remove me from Google Search?
No. Google says Google-Extended doesn't affect inclusion or ranking in Google Search. It controls use for Gemini model training and grounding in Gemini Apps.
What do I need for Google AI Overviews and AI Mode?
Google says there are no additional requirements: the page must be indexed and eligible to show a snippet.
How often should I re-check AI search visibility?
Monthly, with the same fixed questions on the same date, so you compare like with like. Single runs vary.
Can I see AI Overviews traffic in Search Console?
Yes. Google counts AI feature traffic in the Performance report under the Web search type, together with other search traffic.
Start: email yjs121256@gmail.com with your site (or product link), what you need and your deadline. You get a fixed written quote, usually within one Korean business day.