Engines · ChatGPT
Visibility in ChatGPT: Where it gets sources and how to measure it
When ChatGPT answers a current question it can search the web and list sources under its answer. This page explains which OpenAI bots visit your site, what blocking each one changes and how visibility in ChatGPT is measured.
ChatGPT uses OpenAI’s OAI-SearchBot to surface sites in its search answers; sites that block it are not shown in ChatGPT search answers. GPTBot is for model training and is controlled separately. Visits from ChatGPT can be separated by the utm_source=chatgpt.com parameter. Visibility is measured regularly with a fixed question set.
Which OpenAI bots visit your site?
| Bot | Purpose | If blocked in robots.txt |
|---|---|---|
| OAI-SearchBot | Surfacing sites in ChatGPT’s search features | The site is not shown in ChatGPT search answers, though it can still appear as a navigational linkSource 1: Overview of OpenAI crawlers. |
| GPTBot | Training generative AI foundation models | Signals that the content should not be used for trainingSource 1: Overview of OpenAI crawlers. |
| ChatGPT-User | Actions users start in ChatGPT | Because users start these actions, robots.txt rules may not applySource 1: Overview of OpenAI crawlers. |
Because search and training bots are defined separately, robots.txt can treat them differently: you can close training and stay visible in search. OpenAI says a robots.txt change can take about 24 hours to be reflected in search resultsSource 1: Overview of OpenAI crawlers.
How are visits from ChatGPT separated?
Visits from ChatGPT’s source links carry the utm_source=chatgpt.com parameterSource 2: Publishers and Developers – FAQ. You can track visits with that parameter as a separate channel in your analytics. This shows clicks only; measuring mentions that are not clicked needs question-set measurement.
How do we measure ChatGPT?
- The fixed question set is asked the same way every month, in answers that use web search.
- Each question is asked twice; answers can change even for the same question, so no single result decides.
- The answer text, whether the brand is mentioned, the source list and the accuracy of the information are recorded with the date.
OpenAI’s documentation does not detail how ChatGPT chooses its sources. So rather than guessing which sites get cited, we measure it. The full method is on the Kaynaq Method page.
Where does shopping in ChatGPT stand?
OpenAI and Stripe launched Instant Checkout, which enables purchases inside ChatGPT, and the Agentic Commerce Protocol on 29 September 2025 in the US, starting with Etsy sellersSource 3: Stripe powers Instant Checkout in ChatGPT and releases Agentic Commerce Protocol codeveloped with OpenAI (29 Sep 2025). The protocol’s product feed accepts TSV, CSV, XML and JSON and can be refreshed as often as every 15 minutesSource 4: Product Feed Specification. Product data work for brands in Türkiye is covered on the E-commerce GEO page.
Frequently asked questions
01If I block GPTBot, do I disappear from ChatGPT?
GPTBot is for training; being shown in ChatGPT’s search answers depends on OAI-SearchBotSource 1: Overview of OpenAI crawlers. You can block GPTBot and allow OAI-SearchBot.
02How does ChatGPT choose its sources?
OpenAI’s documentation does not detail it. We see the trend by asking the same questions every month and recording which sites are cited.
03How do I see ChatGPT traffic in analytics?
Visits from ChatGPT carry utm_source=chatgpt.comSource 2: Publishers and Developers – FAQ; you can define sessions from that source as their own channel or segment.
Sources
- [1]Overview of OpenAI crawlersOpenAI · accessed: 26 September 2026
- [2]Publishers and Developers – FAQOpenAI Help Center · accessed: 26 September 2026
- [3]Stripe powers Instant Checkout in ChatGPT and releases Agentic Commerce Protocol codeveloped with OpenAI (29 Sep 2025)Stripe · accessed: 26 September 2026
- [4]Product Feed SpecificationAgentic Commerce Protocol · accessed: 26 September 2026
How to cite this page
Kaynaq. (26 September 2026). Visibility in ChatGPT: Where it gets sources and how to measure it. https://kaynaq.pages.dev/en/ai-engines/chatgpt
Updates and corrections
No corrections on this page yet. If you spot an error, write to us; we publish every fix here with its date.