AI Search Visibility: How to See Where AI Answers Cite Your Site

You can check your AI search visibility for free today: Bing Webmaster Tools shows when Copilot and Bing's AI answers cite your pages, and Google Search Console shows when your pages appear in AI Overviews and AI Mode. Together they tell you whether AI answers use your site, and for which questions.

On October 13, 2026, Microsoft added a beta view called Topics Portfolio to its AI Performance report. It groups the questions you are cited for into themes and lists the ones where other sites are cited and you are not. That second list is where AI search visibility turns into a to-do list.

What does AI search visibility actually measure?

AI search visibility means how often AI-generated answers show your site as a source. It is not the same as ranking, and today it is mostly measured in appearances, not visits.

The two reports count different things:

• Bing counts citations. Its AI Performance report, in public preview since February, covers Microsoft Copilot, AI summaries in Bing and some partner tools. It shows total citations, which pages were cited, and "grounding queries", the phrases the AI searched for when it pulled in your content.
• Google counts impressions. Its generative AI report shows how many times links to your site were shown in AI Overviews and AI Mode, by page, country, device and date.

Neither report shows clicks from AI answers at the time of writing, so treat AI search visibility as presence. Your analytics still tell you what it earns.

How do you set up Bing's AI Performance report?

Sign in to Bing Webmaster Tools, add and verify your site if you haven't, then open the AI Performance tab.

Start with the cited pages list. Note your top five pages and the grounding queries attached to each; they show which questions AI already uses you to answer.

In June, Microsoft added Citation Share and Compare. Citation Share is your percentage of all citations for a query. Compare overlays an earlier period, so you can see whether a page you rewrote last month is cited more now.

What does the new Topics Portfolio show?

Topics Portfolio shows your AI search visibility by theme, with how big and crowded each theme is. It appears as a tab next to Citations & Pages, but only if Bing has enough data for your site.

Each topic row lists:

• Topic size: approximate citations across all sites, a rough measure of demand.
• Sites cited: how many sites compete for that theme.
• Queries: how many distinct questions sit inside it.

Below the table, Top Opportunity Queries lists questions where other sites are cited and yours is not, with volumes shown as ranges. Microsoft lists the limits itself: topic labels are AI-generated and can be wrong, smaller sites may see little or nothing, and competitors' brand names can show up as "opportunities". It advises reading the figures as "directional signals for planning, not as a precise ledger."

How do you check AI Overviews and AI Mode in Google?

Open Search Console and look for the generative AI performance report under Performance. Google introduced the reports in June and says that as of August 31 they cover all sites worldwide.

No report? Google says your site may not have enough AI impressions yet, or it may be excluded from Search generative AI features in Settings. Check that setting first.

The chart counts per site, so two of your pages in one AI Overview count as one impression. Use the Pages tab for your AI search visibility by URL, and compare it with your regular Performance report. Pages with many AI impressions but few ordinary clicks deserve a closer look.

What should you do with the AI search visibility data?

Turn it into a short list of pages to write or fix.

1. Pick three opportunity queries from Bing that match work you sell.
2. Find the page that should answer each one. If none exists, that is your next article or service page.
3. Make the answer easy to lift. Bing's own guidance favors clear headings, tables, FAQ sections, evidence for claims and fresh content. Put the direct answer in the first sentence under each heading.
4. Recheck with Compare after 30 days, and watch the matching pages in Search Console.

Local businesses should keep their Bing Places listing current too; Microsoft recommends it so address and hours stay eligible for local AI answers. Our Search Console guide covers the rest of the setup, and AI and search explains why these answers matter.

Frequently asked questions

Is AI search visibility the same as SEO?

They overlap. A page still has to be found and indexed, so SEO basics count, and Bing's guidance adds that clear headings, tables and FAQs make pages easier for AI to reference.

Do these reports show traffic from ChatGPT?

Not by name. Bing's covers Copilot, AI summaries in Bing and partner integrations its announcement doesn't name; Google's covers AI Overviews and AI Mode. Check referral traffic in your analytics for other assistants.

Why don't I see the Topics Portfolio tab?

Bing only shows it when your site has enough citation data. Smaller sites may see a short list or no tab at all during the beta.

How often should I check AI search visibility?

Monthly is enough for most small businesses. The numbers are approximate and move with model updates, so weekly checks mostly show noise.

Can I stop Google using my site in AI answers?

Yes. Search Console has a property-level setting to exclude your site from Search generative AI features, but you then lose those impressions and any visits they bring.

Where to start this week

Set up both reports, write down your top cited pages and three opportunity queries, and decide which page answers each. Measuring AI search visibility only pays off when it changes what you publish. For help turning the numbers into goals your team can track, our digital strategy work starts with that research.