Bing Webmaster Tools Tests AI Performance Report Beta

01/28/26
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Bing Tests AI Performance Report in Webmaster Tools

Bing is testing a new AI Performance report within its Webmaster Tools that tracks how often your site is cited by Microsoft Copilot and partners. The report provides data on citations, grounding queries, intent, and pages cited, but does not include click or CTR data. This feature is currently in beta with limited trusted testers and offers insights into AI-driven search impressions over the past three months.

Optimixed’s Overview: Understanding Bing’s New AI Citation Insights for Webmasters

Introduction to the AI Performance Report

Bing is piloting a novel report in its Webmaster Tools called AI Performance. This tool is designed to help website owners understand how frequently their content is referenced by Microsoft’s AI-powered search experiences, particularly Copilot and its partners.

Key Features of the Report

  • Citations: Tracks the number of times your site is cited by AI, reflecting impression data rather than user interactions.
  • Cited Pages: Displays which specific pages on your site are being referenced.
  • Grounding Queries: Shows the queries Microsoft used as the basis for citing your content, though not the full original queries.
  • Intent Classification: Categorizes grounding queries by user intent, such as navigational or informational.

Limitations and Current Scope

While the report offers valuable insight into AI-driven citation frequency, it notably does not provide click-through rates or actual click data, limiting the ability to measure direct user engagement. Additionally, the report’s data is available for up to approximately three months and is currently restricted to a select group of beta testers.

Implications for Webmasters

This early-stage tool reflects Microsoft’s efforts to enhance transparency around AI’s role in search result generation. Webmasters can leverage this data to better understand their site’s visibility within AI-powered search environments, though they will need to wait for further updates to gain insights on user actions following citations.