Source Attribution
The practice of AI engines crediting specific sources when generating responses. Strong source attribution increases brand authority and trust in AI conversations.
Detailed Explanation
Source Attribution in AI responses is similar to citations in academic writing—it credits the sources of information used to generate a response. Some AI platforms (like Perplexity) prominently display source attribution with links, while others (like ChatGPT) may mention sources within the response or not attribute at all. For brands, strong source attribution means your content, research, or expertise is explicitly credited when AI engines reference your information. This builds authority and trust, as users can see that the AI is drawing on your expertise. Earning source attribution requires creating high-quality, authoritative content that AI models recognize as credible sources. It also involves ensuring your content is accessible and properly structured so AI engines can easily reference and attribute it.
Examples
Perplexity includes a numbered citation linking to your blog post when answering a user's question
ChatGPT mentions 'According to [Your Company]...' when referencing your research
Claude cites your methodology guide when explaining best practices
Why It Matters
Source attribution transforms mentions into endorsements. When AI engines explicitly credit your brand as a source, it positions you as an authority and builds trust with users, significantly increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion.
Related Terms
AI Citation
When an AI engine references or mentions your brand, product, or content as a source in its generated response. Citations are crucial for building AI visibility and credibility.
AI Training Data
The corpus of information used to train AI models. Your brand's presence in quality training data sources influences how AI engines understand and represent you.
Structured Data for AI
Organized information formats that help AI engines better understand and represent your content. This includes schema markup, knowledge graphs, and API-accessible data.
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