Mention

A mention is any instance where an AI assistant — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overview, Claude, or Gemini — names your brand, product, or organization in a generated answer. A mention can appear with a linked citation, or as plain text with no link at all. It is the base unit of measurement in Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), in the same way that a ranking position is the base unit of traditional SEO.

Why it matters for AI

AI assistants answer questions directly instead of returning a list of links, so being named inside the answer is often the only visibility a brand gets. A user who reads a recommendation and never clicks anything has still been influenced by which brands the model chose to name.

Mentions vs. citations

• Mention — the model says your name. It may be drawing on training data, retrieved pages, or both.
• Citation — the model links to a specific URL as a source. Every citation implies a mention, but most mentions carry no citation.

Practical takeaway

• Track by prompt, not in aggregate — mention rates vary sharply between question types.
• Watch competitor mentions — who gets named alongside you defines your perceived category.
• Uncited mentions are still signal — they show the model associates your brand with the topic, even when no link is offered.