2026 AI bot crawler list
Key AI bot user-agents for GEO strategy:
| Bot | Owner | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| GPTBot | OpenAI | ChatGPT retrieval and training |
| OAI-SearchBot | OpenAI | ChatGPT Search / Browse |
| Google-Extended | Gemini and AI Overviews | |
| ClaudeBot | Anthropic | Claude web access |
| PerplexityBot | Perplexity | Perplexity search index |
See our GEO service page for full infrastructure guidance.
robots.txt checklist
- Allow GPTBot and OAI-SearchBot: Critical for ChatGPT visibility.
- Google-Extended: Separate rule block for Gemini and AI Overviews.
- PerplexityBot: Allow for Perplexity citations.
- Block admin/staging: Disallow
/wp-admin/,/staging/, filtered parameter URLs. - Sitemap reference:
Sitemap: https://example.com/sitemap.xml - Conflict check: Verify no CDN/WAF-level bot blocking.
llms.txt configuration
llms.txt is a Markdown file in the root directory telling LLMs which pages are priority and which content is summarizable. Recommended structure:
- Site and brand description (1 paragraph)
- Priority pillar URL list (GEO target pages)
- Contact and resource links
- Optional: excluded sections
Our LLM SEO guide combines crawler and content strategy.
Policy decisions: allow vs block
Blocking all AI bots zeroes GEO visibility. Recommended approach: allow public content, disallow sensitive/raw data. If competitors allow while you block, you lose citation share.
Testing and validation
- Google Search Console robots.txt tester
- curl user-agent simulation:
curl -A "GPTBot" -I https://example.com/ - Server log AI bot hit check (30 days)
- ChatGPT/Perplexity prompt audit to confirm post-crawl indexing
90-day implementation roadmap (summary)
- Days 0–30: AI bot audit, robots.txt revision, WAF/CDN check
- Days 30–60: Create llms.txt, update sitemap, monitor logs
- Days 60–90: Prompt citation test, policy documentation, monthly review
Frequently asked questions
Does blocking GPTBot make me invisible in ChatGPT?
Yes. When GPTBot and OAI-SearchBot are blocked, your content does not enter ChatGPT's retrieval pool. Allow is recommended for GEO.
Is llms.txt mandatory?
Not yet an official standard but rapidly adopted. It signals priority content to guide LLM source selection.
Are Googlebot and Google-Extended the same?
No. Googlebot crawls for organic index; Google-Extended is a separate user-agent for Gemini/AI training and retrieval.
Which pages should I hide from AI bots?
Admin panels, staging, user account pages, raw API output, and copyrighted/restricted content should be disallowed.
Conclusion
robots.txt and llms.txt are GEO's technical gateway. Content strategy alone cannot produce citations without conscious AI bot access management.
At Mizemedia we support this end to end. Learn more on our Generative Engine Optimization page, request a free quote, or contact us.
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