How each assistant shows sources
| Assistant | What its own documentation says |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Responses that use web search may include citations; a Sources view lists cited sources and other relevant links. |
| Perplexity | Each answer includes numbered citations linking to the original sources. |
| Gemini | Sometimes shows sources within and below a response; not all responses include them. |
| Google AI Overviews and AI Mode | An AI response with links to supporting websites. |
Sources: OpenAI's ChatGPT search help page, Perplexity's How does Perplexity work, Gemini's sources help page, and Google's AI features guidance. More on Gemini in how Gemini chooses sources.
Why the difference matters
The two often come apart. An assistant can cite your page for a general explanation of a statute without naming your firm, or name your firm while citing a directory or review site instead of your pages; see how directories figure in AI answers. OpenAI also warns that search results and citations can be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect, so check what each citation actually says about you.
Clicks are harder to isolate than you might expect. Google reports AI Overview and AI Mode traffic inside the Web search type in Search Console, not as its own line.
How to record both
In each dated question test, log four things: whether your firm was named, whether your site was linked, which page was linked, and which other sources appeared. The full method is in how to track AI citations, and the practice-area guides list the questions worth testing for each practice.
Go deeper
The GEO guide for law firms covers what makes a firm's page the source an assistant names and links.
Common questions
Which is worth more to a law firm?
Neither on its own. A citation can bring a visit and a mention can build recognition, but only intake records show whether either produced a consultation. Our homepage lists the measures we report and keeps visibility separate from intake.
Keep reading
Sources
- OpenAI Help Center, "Searching the web with ChatGPT" (linked above)
- Perplexity Help Center, "How does Perplexity work?" (linked above)
- Gemini Apps Help, "View related sources from Gemini Apps" (linked above)
- Google Search Central, "AI features and your website" (last updated December 10, 2025) (linked above)