01
Which AI, down to the model version, is recorded
Why it matters: AI vendors replace their models without notice. With a new model, the same question gets different answers and different cited sites. Without the version on record, you can mistake an AI-side change for the effect of your own work.
AskDo you store the model name the AI reported for every answer? Will you tell us when the model changes?
At KnownForWe record the model name for every answer and tell you first when the model changes. See the observatory report for the Gemini switch on October 10, 2026.
See the observatory report →
02
How often it asks, and how it handles answer variance
Why it matters: AI answers change each time you ask, even for the same question. Judging from one run or a handful of questions means reacting to chance.
AskFor each number you report, how many answers from how many runs is it based on?
At KnownForWe run a "market observatory" that asks AI the same questions for each industry every day, as a separate layer from each customer’s scheduled checks. The "market position" on your screens is those answers summarized week by week.
03
Whether it separates "named", "cited as a source" and "how described"
Why it matters: You can be named while the cited source is someone else’s page. Then AI describes you in another company’s words. The three need to be measured separately.
AskCan you report the share of answers that name us and the share that cite our site separately?
At KnownForWe show the naming rate, the citation rate and how you were described separately, and list the other sites that were cited.
04
Whether questions use buyers’ words, without your company name
Why it matters: If the question contains your name, of course your name appears. Buyers ask "What is the best ___?". Whether you appear for that kind of question is whether you get chosen.
AskCan we see the list of questions? Do any of them contain our company or product name?
At KnownForWe ask without your company name, and the report’s appendix shows every question and answer.
05
Whether it shows your position in the market, not just your own numbers
Why it matters: If your numbers fall while the whole market falls, it is not your problem. Unless you look at the difference after removing the category-wide movement, you will pick the wrong action.
AskCan you show our position against other companies in the same category? How do you handle the other companies’ data?
At KnownForWe observe the whole market and show your position within it. Other companies appear only as percentages, never by name.
06
Whether it separates the effect of your actions from AI-side changes
Why it matters: AI answers change even when you change nothing. Unless you compare under the same conditions what changed after the day you fixed something, you cannot tell whether it worked.
AskDo you record the date of each fix and compare before and after with the same questions and the same model?
At KnownForWe line up numbers under the same conditions (model, period, questions) and show what you fixed next to what changed. We do not promise that fixing something will raise your numbers.
07
Whether it checks the site’s foundations (can AI read it?)
Why it matters: If robots.txt blocks AI crawlers or pages carry noindex, no amount of writing will get them cited. Before measuring answers, check that AI can read the site.
AskDo you also check the reading foundations: robots.txt, noindex, structured data, sitemaps?
At KnownForThe site scan checks only rule-based facts (no AI is used, so the result is the same no matter who runs it or how often).
08
Whether it also checks security (gaps visible from outside)
Why it matters: The more AI names you, the more people and machines look at your site. Cyber attackers collect the same externally visible gaps, such as missing anti-spoofing email settings (DMARC) or outdated software versions.
AskDoes it include an external security check of the same site?
At KnownForOne scan checks both how AI sees you and the security gaps visible from outside. It covers only what is visible from outside and does not replace a security assessment.