"Most site owners don't realize how much of their content large language models (LLMs) already gather. ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini pull from publicly available pages unless you tell them otherwise. That's where LLMs.txt for SEO comes into the picture.LLMs.txt gives you a straightforward way to tell AI crawlers how your content can be used. It doesn't change rankings, but it adds a layer of control over model training, something that wasn't available before."
"This matters as AI-generated answers take up more real estate in search results nowadays. Your content may feed those answers unless you explicitly opt out. LLMs.txt provides clear rules for what's allowed and what isn't, giving you leverage in a space that has grown quickly without much input from site owners. Whether you allow or restrict access, having LLMs.txt in place sets a baseline for managing how your content appears in AI-driven experiences."
LLMs.txt is a root-domain text file that signals how AI crawlers may access and use public site content. The file specifies access permissions per AI crawler, whether content can be used for model training, and how the site participates in LLM datasets. The mechanism functions similarly to robots.txt but targets AI data usage instead of indexing. Major LLM providers are rapidly adopting the standard, enabling clearer consent controls. Allowing access can increase visibility in AI-generated answers; blocking access protects proprietary material. LLMs.txt does not affect search rankings today but establishes baseline control in emerging AI search ecosystems.
Read at Neil Patel
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