Search features and measurement
AI brand mentions
Also called: Brand mentions in AI answers
An AI brand mention is when an AI-generated answer names your company, product or service, whether or not it also links to your website.
In plain words
A mention and a citation are different things. A citation is a link to a source. A mention is your name in the text.
You can be named without being linked, and linked without being named.
Example
Someone asks an AI assistant for good bike shops in their city. The answer lists three shops. One is linked to its website; the other two are only named. All three got a mention, one also got a citation.
Why it matters for AI search
Google says its generative AI features can show what is being said about products and services across the web, in blogs, videos and forum discussions.
Google also warns that chasing inauthentic mentions isn’t as helpful as it may seem, because its systems focus on high-quality content and block spam.
What you can do
- Ask AI tools the questions your customers would ask, and note how they describe your brand.
- Use the free AI prompt generator for ready-made questions.
- Earn real mentions with useful content, reviews and press that people want to talk about.
Often confused with
- AI citation
- A citation is a link to your page as a source. Bing’s AI Performance report counts citations, not mentions.
Sources
- Google Search Central: Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search
- Bing Webmaster Blog: Introducing AI Performance in Bing Webmaster Tools Public Preview (February 2026)
Facts and sources last checked on 19 October 2026.
Related terms
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