Microsoft has launched a public preview of AI Performance within Bing Webmaster Tools, a significant update designed to help publishers and website owners track how their content is being used in the era of Generative AI.
This new feature moves beyond traditional “blue link” SEO, offering transparency into how often content is cited in AI-generated answers across Microsoft Copilot, Bing AI summaries, and partner integrations.
Why This Matters: The Shift to GEO
As search habits evolve, users are increasingly discovering information through AI-generated answers rather than traditional search results. Microsoft frames this release as an early step toward Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).
For the first time, publishers can see exactly which URLs are being referenced by AI systems and the specific queries (grounding queries) that lead to those citations.
Key Features of the AI Performance Dashboard
The dashboard provides a consolidated view of your site’s visibility in AI experiences through several key metrics:
- Total Citations: The total number of times your content was displayed as a source in AI-generated answers.
- Grounding Queries: The specific key phrases or questions users asked that led the AI to retrieve and cite your content.
- Page-Level Activity: A breakdown of which specific URLs are cited most frequently, allowing you to identify your high-performing content.
- Visibility Trends: A timeline showing how citation activity changes over time, helping you spot spikes or drops in AI visibility.
How to Optimize for AI Citations
Microsoft advises that publishers can improve their chances of being cited by focusing on clarity and authority. The announcement highlights several strategies for “Generative Engine Optimization”:
- Structure & Clarity: Use clear headings, tables, and FAQ sections to make content easier for AI models to parse and reference.
- Depth & Evidence: Support claims with data, examples, and citations to build trust.
- Freshness (IndexNow): Use IndexNow to instantly notify search engines of content changes, ensuring AI systems reference the most current version of a page.
- Local Visibility: Local businesses are encouraged to keep their Bing Places for Business profiles updated to ensure accurate AI responses for location-based queries.
The Bottom Line
This update bridges the gap between web publishers and AI systems, offering data that was previously a “black box.” By monitoring which pages are cited and for what queries, SEOs and content creators can now refine their strategies to capture traffic from the growing number of AI-driven searches.
