TL;DR
There is no single “rank position” for AI Overviews or answer engines. Instead, measure (1) whether the AI module appears, (2) whether your pages are cited/linked inside it, and (3) downstream clicks and engagement in analytics. Google counts AI Overviews/AI Mode clicks and impressions in the Search Console Performance (“Web”) report—there’s no dedicated AIO tab—so your impact assessment comes from annotating releases and correlating with AI module presence. For ChatGPT/Atlas and Perplexity, track citations and referrals when these tools browse the web and link to your pages.
1) First principles: AI “ranking” ≠ classic rank position
- Google AI Overviews (AIO) is a module with a generated snapshot and linked sources (a set, not a top-10). Appearance varies by query, market, and time, and there’s no schema to force inclusion.
- ChatGPT/Atlas performs web actions and compiles insights during browsing; it may show and follow links to your site in context.
- Perplexity returns answers with citations, and Deep Research aggregates findings from multiple searches. Your “ranking” is being named and linked as a source.
Takeaway: Replace the idea of a single “rank” with AIO presence + citation coverage + verified traffic impact.
2) What Google officially reports (and what it doesn’t)
Google’s AI features documentation clarifies how creators should think about eligibility; Search Console remains the system of record for performance. Google support explains that AI Overviews and AI Mode clicks/impressions are included in the Performance report under “Web.” There is no separate filter solely for AIO.
Implications for measurement:
- Use GSC Performance (Web) to monitor queries, pages, impressions, clicks, and CTR.
- Add annotations when you publish significant AEO content or fix technical issues, then correlate uplift with your AIO tracking logs.
- Expect noise as features evolve; interpret movements over multi-week windows rather than day-to-day.
Industry press has echoed the change that AI Mode traffic is included in Search Console totals (useful for stakeholder comms), but your authoritative source is the Search Console docs/community.
3) An AIO tracking framework (presence, citations, context)
A credible “AI rank” workflow records experiments, not just positions:
- Presence: For each tracked query, did AI Overviews appear in that run? (Yes/No) Google frames AIO as context-dependent, so repeat tests across times and locales.
- Citations: When AIO appears, which domains and URLs are linked within the snapshot? Record link order if visible, but treat it as a set, not a strict rank.
- Context: Log country/language, device type, and search phrasing (variants, follow-ups). AIO addresses complex queries and may explore related subtopics.
- Evidence capture: Store screenshots or HTML snippets of the AIO block for auditability.
- Impact join: Join AIO logs to GSC Performance (by query/page) to assess whether new citations correlate with clicks/CTR changes.
4) Measuring ChatGPT/Atlas and Perplexity
- ChatGPT/Atlas: Because Atlas is a browser, referrals may appear as standard web traffic when users follow links during an Atlas session. Track landing pages that align with your AEO targets and monitor time on page, scroll depth, and conversions post-publication. Atlas product notes describe tasks like competitive research and compiling insights, reinforcing the value of well-structured pages.
- Perplexity: Manually (or programmatically) run core queries in Perplexity and Deep Research, recording which of your URLs are being cited. Deep Research specifically runs multiple searches and reads many pages; ensure your pages include quotable claims (thresholds, steps) and primary sources.
5) Building a practical dashboard
Data sources:
- AIO tracker: Presence, cited sources, environment.
- GSC API: Queries, pages, clicks, impressions, CTR (search type Web).
- Analytics: Engagement and conversions on the affected pages.
Core KPIs:
- AIO Trigger Rate (by query bucket and market).
- Cited-Domain Share (% of AIO runs where your domain is among links).
- New vs. Lost Citations (week-over-week).
- Impact Correlation (AIO presence → GSC clicks/CTR deltas on cited pages).
- Perplexity Citation Count (manual checks over time).
Note: Because INP replaced FID as a Core Web Vital in March 2024, include INP in your page-experience dashboard; improved responsiveness often co-moves with engagement.
6) How to respond to the data (win the citation)
- Add the missing facts. If AIO links competitors, study what they state that you don’t (thresholds, versions, exceptions, tables) and upgrade your page to include the same or better evidence.
- Tighten structure. Use answer-first intros, H2/H3 for sub-questions, and comparison tables.
- Clarify entities. Add Organization and relevant Product/FAQ schema (matching on-page text) to reduce ambiguity.
- Improve UX and speed. Target INP ≤ 200 ms at p75 where possible; a faster page improves perceived quality.
7) Limits & caveats (set expectations internally)
- No guaranteed inclusion. There’s no AIO switch or privileged tag. Google stresses helpful content and eligibility.
- Volatility is normal. AIO appearance and link sets can fluctuate week to week; watch trends, not single runs.
- Attribution is blended. Because AIO/AI Mode clicks live in GSC “Web”, teasing apart exact drivers requires annotations and correlation, not a dedicated AIO chart.
Bottom line
You “see where you rank in AI” by tracking whether AI modules show up, whether you’re cited inside them, and whether those citations drive clicks/engagement. Anchor your reporting in Search Console (Web) and treat AIO trackers as directional. Then fix what the data tells you: add missing facts, clarify structure, and keep your technical signals strong.
References (Harvard style)
Google (2025a) AI features and your website. Available at: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features (Accessed 26 Oct 2025).
Google (2025b) Find information in faster & easier ways with AI Overviews in Google Search. Available at: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/14901683 (Accessed 26 Oct 2025).
Google (2025c) Is there any way to identify traffic coming from AI Mode or AI Overview? Google Support Community. Available at: https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/382358989 (Accessed 26 Oct 2025).
OpenAI (2025) Introducing ChatGPT Atlas. Available at: https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-atlas/ (Accessed 26 Oct 2025).
Perplexity (2025) Introducing Perplexity Deep Research. Available at: https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-perplexity-deep-research (Accessed 26 Oct 2025).
web.dev (2024) INP is officially a Core Web Vital. Available at: https://web.dev/blog/inp-cwv-launch (Accessed 26 Oct 2025).