AI Overview Top Sources
Top Sources reveals which domains Google cites most frequently in AI Overviews—showing the competitive landscape for AI search visibility and identifying authoritative sources in your space.
Quick start
1. Navigate to the Top Sources tab
2. Select a search group from the dropdown
3. Review which domains are cited most often
4. Check if tracked domains appear in the top 10
Understanding the display
Reading the chart
The horizontal bar chart displays the top 10 most cited sources across AI Overviews for tracked keywords.
• Y-axis: Source domains (top to bottom by citation count)
• X-axis: Number of mentions (citations in AI Overviews)
• Bar length: Longer bars indicate more frequent citations
• Data labels: Exact count shown at the end of each bar
What mentions represent
Each mention is a distinct citation in an AI Overview. A domain can be cited multiple times across different AI Overviews, or multiple times within a single AI Overview. The count reflects total citation frequency.
Data timeframe
The chart displays data from the most recent date with AI Overview information. This provides a current snapshot rather than historical aggregation.
What should I do next?
| Situation | Meaning | Action |
| Tracked domain in top 10 | Strong AI Overview presence | Maintain content quality; protect position |
| Tracked domain not in top 10 | Limited AI citation visibility | Analyse top sources; improve content authority |
| Competitor dominates top spots | Competitor has AI authority | Study their content approach and coverage |
| Diverse sources (no dominant player) | Opportunity space | Comprehensive content can capture citations |
| Same domains as organic competitors | AI mirrors organic authority | Focus on overall SEO strategy |
Using the filters
Search group
Select a search group to see which sources are cited for keywords in that group. The chart updates automatically when the selection changes.
Keyword filter
Optionally select a specific keyword to see which sources are cited in AI Overviews for that keyword only. Select "All" to see aggregate data across all tracked keywords.
Workspace
If workspaces are configured, data filters to domains within the active workspace. Switch workspaces using the workspace selector in the main navigation.
Why top sources matter
Competitive intelligence
Seeing which domains Google cites most reveals who holds authority in your topic space. This identifies competitors to watch and content standards to meet or exceed.
Content strategy
Top sources share common characteristics: comprehensive coverage, clear structure, authoritative voice. Analysing what gets cited informs content creation and optimisation.
Benchmarking
Tracking whether your domain appears—and where it ranks among sources—provides a measurable benchmark for AI visibility progress over time.
Troubleshooting
No data for this selection
This appears when no AI Overview data exists for the selected filters. Possible causes:
• Tracked keywords don't trigger AI Overviews
• Selected keyword has no AI Overview data
• Workspace filtering excludes relevant domains
• Data collection hasn't run yet for new keywords
Try selecting a different search group or keyword, or select "All" for the broadest view.
Chart not loading
If the chart shows a loading spinner but doesn't complete:
• Refresh the page
• Check internet connection
• Clear browser cache
• Contact support if the problem persists
Fewer than 10 sources showing
The chart shows up to 10 sources. Fewer sources appear when:
• Fewer than 10 distinct domains are cited in AI Overviews
• AI Overviews for tracked keywords cite limited sources
• Single keyword filter limits available data
FAQ
How often does this data update?
Data updates when ranking checks run. The chart always shows the most recent date with AI Overview data.
Why isn't my domain in the top 10?
The chart shows the 10 most cited sources. If a tracked domain doesn't appear, it's either not being cited or is cited less frequently than the top 10 sources.
Does this show historical trends?
The chart shows the latest snapshot only, not historical trends. For trend analysis, compare observations over time.
Are these the same sources shown in AI Overview details?
Yes. This chart aggregates sources from the same AI Overview data. The difference is aggregation—here sources are counted across all keywords.
Does high citation count mean high traffic?
Citation indicates AI visibility, not traffic. Users may see the cited source but not click through. However, consistent citation typically correlates with strong organic performance.
Getting help
Contact support for data-specific issues