Which News Sites Do ChatGPT and Google AI Quote Most?
When someone asks ChatGPT or Google’s AI about your industry, the answer is built from other people’s websites. Here is what the latest data shows about which news sites and sources AI tools quote most, and what that means for your business.
Which news sites do AI tools quote most? The short answer
AI tools quote a wide mix of sources rather than a fixed list of news sites. In a May 2026 study of over 25 million citations, 84% came from earned media, journalism made up 27%, and recent articles were strongly preferred. ChatGPT cited Wikipedia most, Gemini cited Reddit most, and news partners such as the AP, the Financial Times and The Guardian have content deals with OpenAI.
- Earned coverage dominates AI citations
- Recent articles are quoted far more than old ones
- Specialist titles can beat famous newspapers
- No one can guarantee an AI citation
How ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI choose which sites to quote
When an AI assistant searches the web, it does three things in a few seconds: it finds pages that might answer the question, picks the most useful passages, and writes an answer that cites some of them. Which news sites get quoted depends on all three steps.
- Can the tool reach the page?Pages blocked by paywalls, robots rules or slow loading are less likely to be used.
- Does the page answer the question?Clear, specific, well-structured passages are easier to quote than vague ones.
- Is the source trusted?Independent, established and recent coverage is preferred over advertising and old pages.
- Does the tool have access rights?Some publishers have licensing deals with AI companies, which can make their content easier to show.
Google says there is nothing special you need to do to appear in AI Overviews beyond normal good SEO: the page must be indexed and eligible to show with a snippet in Google Search.
Which sources AI tools actually cite
A media intelligence study published in May 2026 looked at more than 25 million links cited by ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini across 17 industries. Its main findings:
84% earned media
Most citations came from independent sources such as news, reviews and expert sites. Advertising and advertorials were around 0.3%.
27% journalism
About a quarter of all cited sources were journalism, spread across more than 20,000 outlets rather than a handful of famous names.
Recency matters
More than half of journalism citations came from articles published in the previous 12 months, and citations dropped sharply after about six months.
Most-cited domain for each AI tool in that study
| AI tool | Most-cited domain | How often it cited sources |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Wikipedia | Cited sources in 96% of answers, about 5 per answer |
| Gemini | Cited sources in 82% of answers, about 8 per answer | |
| Claude | PubMed Central | Cited sources in 55% of answers, about 13 per answer |
The study also found that a specialist news site, Axios, appeared among ChatGPT’s top three cited domains in 13 of the 17 industries, while some of the world’s most famous newspapers did not make the top three in any. Big name does not automatically mean most quoted.
News publishers with AI content partnerships
Since 2023, OpenAI has signed content and display agreements with many news publishers, allowing ChatGPT to show and link to their journalism. Google has a data partnership with Reddit, announced in February 2024. These are some of the best-known OpenAI news partners:
| Publisher | Announced | Type of coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Associated Press | July 2023 | Global news agency |
| Axel Springer (Politico, Business Insider, Bild) | December 2023 | European and US news |
| Financial Times | April 2024 | UK business news |
| News Corp (The Times, The Sun, Wall Street Journal) | May 2024 | UK and US news |
| Condé Nast (Vogue, GQ, Wired) | August 2024 | Lifestyle and tech magazines |
| Axios | January 2025 | US news and local newsletters |
| The Guardian and The Observer | February 2025 | UK news |
| The Washington Post | April 2025 | US news |
A partnership does not mean every article from that publisher appears in answers, or that other sites are ignored. It is one factor among many, and deals change over time.
The types of sites AI tools quote most for business questions
When people ask “who is the best…?”
- Independent “best of” lists and buying guides
- Review platforms and directories
- Reddit and forum discussions
- Trade and industry publications
When people ask about a specific company
- The company’s own website
- News coverage about the company
- Wikipedia, if an article exists
- Review sites and employee review sites
How to get your business onto the sites AI tools quote
No one can promise that a particular AI tool will quote you. What you can do is make it more likely that the sources it reads describe you accurately and well.
Earn coverage in trusted, relevant titles
Focus on publications your industry reads, not just famous names. Trade press often shapes niche answers.
Keep coverage fresh
Because recent articles are cited far more, plan a steady flow of news rather than one big launch.
Get included in genuine “best of” lists
Independent lists and comparisons are heavily used for recommendation questions.
Make your own site easy to quote
Clear service pages, facts, FAQs and up-to-date company details help AI tools describe you correctly.
Keep facts consistent everywhere
Your name, services, locations and founders should match across your website, profiles and coverage.
Look after your reviews and forum reputation
Answer honestly where people discuss you. Negative threads and reviews are quoted too.
Get covered where AI tools and customers are looking
United Press has secured coverage in respected publications since 2001. We plan placements and earned stories on the titles that matter in your industry, keep coverage fresh, and make sure the facts about you are consistent.
Guaranteed placements
Features on named publications agreed in writing, live within 14 days of approval or a 100% refund. See guaranteed media placement.
AI search visibility
Coverage and content built for AI answers. See our GEO service.
Listicle placement
Genuine “best of” list inclusion. See listicle placement.
Press releases
Regular news that keeps your coverage recent. See press release distribution.
AI citations: frequently asked questions
Which websites does ChatGPT cite the most?
In a May 2026 study of more than 25 million AI citations, Wikipedia was ChatGPT’s most-cited domain. Overall, most citations came from earned media such as news, reviews and expert sites, and recent articles were cited far more than older ones.
Which news sites does Google AI Overview use?
Google does not publish a list. AI Overviews draw on pages in Google’s index that are eligible to appear with a snippet, and Google says normal SEO best practice applies. In practice, they cite a mix of news sites, specialist publications, forums and company websites.
Do AI tools prefer famous newspapers?
Not always. The same study found that a specialist outlet, Axios, ranked in ChatGPT’s top three cited domains in 13 of 17 industries, while some of the most famous newspapers did not make the top three in any. Relevance and clarity matter more than fame.
Which publishers have deals with OpenAI?
OpenAI has announced content partnerships with publishers including the Associated Press, Axel Springer, the Financial Times, News Corp, Condé Nast, Axios, The Guardian and The Washington Post, among others. Deals can change, so treat any list as a snapshot.
Does sponsored content get cited by AI?
Rarely. In the May 2026 study, advertising and advertorial content made up only about 0.3% of AI citations. Independent coverage and helpful, factual pages are far more likely to be used.
How recent does coverage need to be for AI to quote it?
More than half of journalism citations in the study came from articles published in the previous 12 months, and citations fell sharply after about six months. A steady flow of coverage helps more than one big story.
Can I buy a citation in ChatGPT or Google AI?
No. There is no way to buy a citation in an AI answer. What you can do is earn coverage on trusted sites, keep your own website clear and accurate, and look after your reviews and reputation.
How can United Press help with AI visibility?
We plan coverage on publications that matter in your industry, keep it fresh with regular news, and make sure facts about you are consistent. Guaranteed placements go live within 14 days of approval or a 100% refund.
Be part of the answer your customers are asking for.
More and more buying decisions start with a question to an AI assistant. When trusted sources tell your story clearly, there is a better chance the answer includes you.