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ChatGPT search now uses the site:operator at scale

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  • Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) tools, such as Promptwatch, are providing crucial, otherwise invisible, insights into the internal workings of AI models, revealing significant shifts in how ChatGPT conducts its searches.
  • Promptwatch data showed a dramatic jump from 0.3-0.5% to 16-17% in ChatGPT Search queries containing the site:operator around August 8th, coinciding with the GPT-5.6 rollout and OpenAI’s announcement of “more focused answers.”
  • This internal shift suggests ChatGPT’s search now frequently targets specific domains (potentially via a search(query, recency, domains) structure), with Promptwatch later observing a reduced likelihood of Reddit being used in these searches.
  • The reliance on GEO tools underscores the challenge for creators and SEOs to understand and adapt to AI model behavior when system prompts and internal mechanisms are actively obscured by developers like OpenAI.