Sources Cited by ChatGPT
OpenAI
ChatGPT draws from a massive pre-training corpus and can browse the web in real time. When browsing is active, it retrieves pages from search engines and cites them inline. Without browsing, it relies on training data that includes Reddit threads, Wikipedia articles, news sites, and documentation.
How ChatGPT uses sources
ChatGPT cites sources in two modes. With browsing enabled, it retrieves live web pages and provides inline citations with URLs. Without browsing, it draws on training data. Reddit, Wikipedia, news outlets, and documentation sites appear most frequently. Source attribution varies by query type: B2B queries lean toward review sites and documentation, while consumer queries favor forums and media.
Top sources for ChatGPT
reddit.com
The internet's largest forum. Subreddits cover every topic, from product recommendations to technical troubleshooting. LLMs frequently cite Reddit threads as first-hand user experiences.
wikipedia.org
The free encyclopedia. A foundational knowledge source for every major LLM's training data and real-time retrieval.
g2.com
The largest B2B software review platform. LLMs cite G2 reviews for software comparisons, ratings, and buyer sentiment.
stackoverflow.com
The largest developer Q&A platform. A top source for code examples, error resolution, and technical explanations in LLM responses.
linkedin.com
The professional social network. LLMs cite LinkedIn for company profiles, professional bios, and industry discussions.
github.com
The world's largest code hosting platform. LLMs cite repositories, README files, issues, and discussions.
All tracked sources for ChatGPT
💬 Forum Sources
Discussion forums and Q&A sites
reddit.com
The internet's largest forum. Subreddits cover every topic, from product recommendations to technical troubleshooting. LLMs frequently cite Reddit threads as first-hand user experiences.
stackoverflow.com
The largest developer Q&A platform. A top source for code examples, error resolution, and technical explanations in LLM responses.
quora.com
Q&A platform covering broad topics. Cited for expert opinions, personal experiences, and long-form answers.
news.ycombinator.com
Y Combinator's tech community. Cited for developer opinions, startup discussions, and tech industry commentary.
⭐ Review Sources
Software and product review sites
g2.com
The largest B2B software review platform. LLMs cite G2 reviews for software comparisons, ratings, and buyer sentiment.
sourceforge.net
Open-source software directory and review platform. Cited for software downloads, reviews, and project comparisons.
capterra.com
B2B software review and comparison platform. Cited for software category lists, feature comparisons, and user reviews.
trustpilot.com
Consumer review platform. Cited for business reputation, customer sentiment, and service quality assessments.
👥 Social Sources
Social networks
linkedin.com
The professional social network. LLMs cite LinkedIn for company profiles, professional bios, and industry discussions.
x.com
Real-time social platform. Grok has native access; other LLMs cite X posts for trending topics, opinions, and announcements.
youtube.com
The largest video platform. LLMs reference YouTube for tutorials, reviews, and educational content via metadata and transcripts.
📚 Wikipedia Sources
Wikipedia and wikis
📖 Documentation Sources
Technical docs and code repos
📋 Directory Sources
Product directories and listings
📰 Media Sources
News and publications
Frequently asked questions
What sources does ChatGPT cite most?
ChatGPT cites a mix of sources depending on query type. Top sources include Reddit, Wikipedia, G2, Stack Overflow. Technical queries lean toward documentation and code repositories. Consumer queries favor forums and review sites.
How does ChatGPT choose its sources?
ChatGPT cites sources in two modes. With browsing enabled, it retrieves live web pages and provides inline citations with URLs. Without browsing, it draws on training data. Reddit, Wikipedia, news outlets, and documentation sites appear most frequently. Source attribution varies by query type: B2B queries lean toward review sites and documentation, while consumer queries favor forums and media.
Can I track which sources ChatGPT cites for my brand?
Yes. xSeek monitors ChatGPT responses for your brand mentions and tracks which sources are cited alongside them. You see citation frequency, source types, and trends over time.
How is ChatGPT different from other LLMs in source selection?
Each LLM has distinct citation patterns. ChatGPT (OpenAI) uses specific retrieval strategies that favor certain source types. Compare citation patterns across models using the source tracking table above.
