Third-party sources play a major role in how AI systems understand and describe brands. For example, AirOps research found that 85% of brand mentions in AI search came from third-party sources rather than brand-owned content.
The exact percentage will vary, but the implication is that your site is not the only source shaping your AI visibility.
Growing Brand Authority for AI visibility requires coordinated work across:
- Link building: Backlinks from related, authoritative sites reviewing relevant businesses.
- Digital PR: Relevant coverage from authoritative publications and industry sources.
- Community management: Real user conversations, reviews, recommendations, and feedback.
If you already have a great SEO program, you will tell me this should have been happening all along, and you’re right.
The challenge is that many organizations still operate in silos, where SEO, PR, social media, and brand teams work separately, even though they influence the same visibility systems.
Positive sentiment and positioning matter more than ever
It’s no longer enough to earn mentions, links, or citations. The context of those mentions matters.
AI systems may use third-party sources to understand your brand positioning, how it compares with alternatives, and whether others validate those claims.
![A study of 50,000 brands in ChatGPT [Study]](https://mgrowtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ai-visibility-is-a-topic-level-game-a-study-of-50000-brands-in-chatgpt-study-350x250.png)
