All chatbots
OpenAI
GPT-5
217
answers
31%
answers cite
5.7
sources per citing answer
36
different websites
0.83
news-site quality (0 to 1)
How do chatbots’ citation patterns change over time?
Share of answers with a citation, each day.
GPT-5
Most-cited websites
Domains by number of citations.
Source types week by week
Share of citations by type of publisher, per week.
Week of Sep 2857
14%
53%
30%
Week of Oct 584
67%
23%
Week of Oct 1294
63%
20%
10%
Week of Oct 1986
71%
16%
Week of Oct 2658
60%
24%
News and mediaEncyclopedias and referenceAcademicGovernmentNonprofits and think tanksSocial media and videoData and toolsNot yet classified
What are citations used for?
Each citation coded by the job it does in the answer.
GPT-590
56%
28%
Evidence for a claimA statisticWho holds a viewBackgroundFurther reading
What kind of a page gets cited?
A specific article, or a home page that cannot back a specific claim.
GPT-590
42%
49%
ArticleData pageReference entryOfficial documentOther
Which questions get answers with citations?
Share of answers with a citation, per question. Tap a cell to read the answers.
How do chatbots handle yes-or-no questions?
Average position: +1 is a clear yes, −1 a clear no, 0 both sides. Tap a cell for the answers.