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ChatGPT Citation Drop After GPT-5.3

Around the GPT-5.3 rollout on March 4, 2026, the average number of sources cited per ChatGPT response dropped noticeably — across all models including GPT-5.3, GPT-5.4, and GPT-5-Mini. This isn't limited to one model version; ChatGPT's search behavior changed as a whole. We're tracking this trend daily.

Average Citations Per ChatGPT Response

The chart below shows the average number of sources cited per ChatGPT response from February 26 to March 11, 2026. The red dashed line marks the GPT-5.3 rollout on March 4 — around which citations per response began declining across all ChatGPT models (GPT-5.3, GPT-5.4, GPT-5-Mini).

This data only includes ChatGPT messages where web search was triggered. Responses without web search are not counted.

How we collect this data

We collect millions of prompt responses, citations, and click data from the actual user interfaces of major AI platforms — over 4 billion data points and growing. This gives us one of the largest and most authentic datasets on how AI search engines cite sources and recommend brands.

Real UI monitoring

Data straight from the interfaces of ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, AI Overviews, and more.

4B+ data points

Over 4 billion analyzed citations, prompts, and responses — one of the largest AI search datasets available.

Continuously updated

Refreshed constantly so the trends you see reflect the latest behavior of AI search engines.

Aggregated & public

Published freely for the GEO community, based on aggregated, non-identifiable trends.

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