Notably, AI engines weight passage-level factual density heavily and raw domain authority less than Google does. That means a smaller site with a genuinely well-researched, specific page can get cited even when it wouldn't outrank big sites in traditional search.
The practical takeaway: write pages that answer a question directly, include real numbers and named specifics, structure them with clear headings, and keep them accurate. That's what makes a passage easy and safe for an AI to quote.
Updated July 2026