Part II

76% of the Sources AI Cites Come From Outside Google’s Top 10

For software queries, 76% of the sources AI cites come from outside Google’s top 10 results. But ranking still matters: the #1 SERP result was cited 93% of the time.

76%

of AI-cited sources for software queries sit outside Google’s top 10

93%

of the time, the #1 SERP result was cited

Where those citations come from instead (across all industries):

Review sites
Reddit threads
YouTube videos
Niche authority sites

Tree diagram: 73% of what AI cites comes from outside Google's top 10 — Reddit threads, YouTube videos, niche authority sites — The myth of page one: you cannot just win search rankings and expect AI to cite you.

Source: Fractl research: “What AI Actually Recommends”