In addition to this basic configuration, websites must ensure proper indexing by Bing and maintain a clear site architecture.
It’s worth noting that allowing OAI-SearchBot doesn’t automatically mean the content will be used for AI training.
It can take approximately 24 hours for OpenAI’s systems to adjust to new crawling directives after a site’s robots.txt update.
Content Attribution
ChatGPT Search includes several key features for content publishers:
Source Attribution: All referenced content includes proper citation
Source Sidebar: Provides reference links for verification
Multiple Citation Opportunities: A single query can generate multiple source citations
Locations: Searches for specific locations will return an interactive map, as shown below.
Image Credit: OpenAI
Additional Considerations
Recent testing has revealed several important factors:
Content freshness affects visibility
Pages behind paywalls can still be cited
URLs returning 404 errors may still appear in citations
Multiple pages from the same domain can be referenced in a single response
Recommendations
Indexing in ChatGPT requires ongoing attention to technical health, including regular verification of the robots.txt file and crawler access.
Publishers should prioritize maintaining factual accuracy and up-to-date information while implementing a clear content structure.
This ensures that pages remain accessible across traditional search engines and AI-powered platforms, helping websites achieve broader visibility.
Featured Image: designkida/Shutterstock