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Is Your Content Ready for This Critical Change?
ChatGPT has quietly changed how it finds information. For a long time, it used Bing search results. But now, several tests show it’s using Google search instead. This change is huge for website owners who want their content to show up in AI answers.
What Tests Revealed
A developer named Abhishek Iyer ran a clever test. He made up a fake word and put it on a webpage. Then he only submitted that page to Google Search Console – nowhere else. Soon after Google found the page, ChatGPT could define his fake word perfectly. Other search engines like Bing couldn’t find it at all.
Another SEO expert, Aleyda Solís, tried something similar. She created a new page and tested when ChatGPT could find it. The results were clear: ChatGPT only found her page after Google indexed it. Even more telling, ChatGPT sometimes uses what looks like Google’s cached snippets directly.
Why This Matters for Your Website
This change means Google indexing is now even more important. If your pages aren’t showing up in Google’s search results, they probably won’t appear in ChatGPT answers either.
Here’s what you need to focus on:
- Get your pages indexed by Google first – Use Google Search Console to submit your important pages
- Fix “Crawled but not indexed” issues – These are becoming more common and keep your content invisible to AI systems
- Write clear, direct answers – AI systems scan for content that answers questions completely
- Use proper page structure – Clean headings and organized content help AI understand your pages better
How AI Finds Your Content
Unlike traditional search rankings, AI systems don’t rank pages. Instead, they look for content that’s useful enough to quote or reference. Your content needs to be:
- Clear and well-organized – AI prefers content with proper headings and structure
- Comprehensive – Pages that cover topics thoroughly get picked more often
- Directly helpful – Content that answers specific questions performs better
What Website Owners Should Do Now
The shift to Google’s index means traditional SEO practices matter more than ever. But you also need to think about how AI systems read your content.
Focus on these key areas:
- Google indexing – Make sure all your important pages are indexed
- Content clarity – Write in simple, direct language that answers questions
- Topic coverage – Create comprehensive content that covers subjects deeply
- Schema markup – Help search engines understand your content structure
The Bigger Picture
This change shows how AI and search are becoming connected. ChatGPT processes over a billion queries daily, and users often skip traditional search entirely. They ask AI systems directly instead of searching Google first.
For website owners, this means you’re not just competing for Google rankings anymore. You’re competing to be included in AI-generated answers. The good news? The same practices that help with Google search also help with AI visibility.
Why Does Your Content Show Up in AI Answers?
Research shows that ChatGPT and similar AI systems look for content that has authority and covers topics completely. They want sources they can trust and quote accurately. This means:
- Detailed explanations beat short, shallow content
- Well-structured pages are easier for AI to understand and use
- Clear answers to common questions get picked more often
What Happens Next
The trend is clear: AI systems are becoming major sources of information. Google’s AI Overviews now appear in over 13% of all searches. ChatGPT usage continues growing rapidly.
For website owners, the message is simple. Keep focusing on Google indexing and clear content structure. But also think about how AI systems might use your content. Write for both humans and machines. Make your pages easy to understand and quote.
This shift isn’t just about SEO anymore. It’s about making sure your content stays visible as people change how they find information online.