RESEARCH

The 2026 AI citation study

We ran 4,100 high-intent B2B queries across four AI engines and traced every citation to its source. Here is what decides who gets named.

4,100 QUERIES4 ENGINESQ2 2026

32.5%

of citations came from comparison content

2.8x

citation lift after full GEO optimization

44%

source overlap between ChatGPT and Perplexity

signals explain most citation outcomes

METHODOLOGYWe compiled 4,100 high-intent B2B queries spanning comparison, problem-aware, and vendor-specific intent. Each was run three times across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google AI Mode between April and June 2026. Every cited URL was classified by content format and domain type.

Citations by content format

Comparison and alternatives content dominated, taking almost a third of all citations. Formats that state a clear, sourceable verdict outperformed narrative or brand-voice content across every engine.

Comparison / alternatives33%

How-to and guides21%

Product and docs18%

Research and data16%

Community threads13%

Figure 1. Share of citations by content format, n=4,100 queries.

Where citations overlap by engine

The engines agree less than you would expect. A source cited by ChatGPT was named by Perplexity only 44% of the time, which means visibility has to be earned on each engine, not assumed.

ENGINE	CITES YOU	UNIQUE	RANK
ChatGPT	74%	21%	2.1
Perplexity	61%	18%	2.6
Claude	57%	14%	2.9
AI Mode	48%	12%	3.4

Cite this research● LIVE

Something Inc. (2026). The 2026 AI Citation Study.
4,100 B2B queries across four generative engines.
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Josh BernsteinMANAGING PARTNER, SOMETHING INC.

Josh leads work at the intersection of SEO and generative engines at Something Inc., helping B2B brands get ranked and cited across every major AI engine.

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