Analytics: AI Traffic
Guides tracking of AI-driven search traffic in Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console.
When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.
Scope
- AI search traffic: Track in GA4 and GSC; separate AI sources from organic referral
- Google AI Overviews: AI summary box in Google search (formerly SGE)
- AI-driven search: Traffic from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, etc.
Why Track Separately
- AI traffic is growing but GA4 often groups it as Referral, Organic, or Direct
- AI visitors may have stronger intent and higher conversion
- Separating AI Overviews from organic helps assess AI impact
GA4: AI-Driven Search
Option 1: Exploration Report (Recommended)
- Explore →Free form
- Dimensions:
Session source (or Session source / medium)
- Metrics: Sessions, Engagement rate, Event count, etc.
- Filters: Add filter →
Session source Matches regex →use regex below
- Configure table, save report
Regex (common AI sources):
chatgpt\.com|openai\.com|openai|perplexity\.ai|perplexity|doubao\.com|chat\.qwen\.ai|copilot\.microsoft\.com|copilot\.com|(business\.)?gemini\.google|chat\.deepseek\.com|deepseek\.com|poe\.com|anthropic\.com|claude\.ai|bard\.google\.com|edgeservices\.bing\.com
Option 2: Custom Channel Group
- Admin →Data Display →Channel Groups
- Copy default group, name e.g. "Default and AI Chatbots"
- Add channel "AI Chatbots":
Source Matches regex (same regex)
- Important: Place "AI Chatbots" above "Referral" so it matches first
- Save and use in Traffic Acquisition
Option 3: Custom Report
- Reports →Library →Create Detail Report
- Use Traffic Acquisition template
- Add filter:
Session source Matches regex (same regex)
- Save and add to menu
Common AI Source Domains
| Platform |
GA4 Source examples |
| ChatGPT |
chatgpt.com, openai |
| Perplexity |
perplexity.ai, perplexity |
| Copilot |
copilot.com, copilot.microsoft.com |
| Gemini |
business.gemini.google, gemini.google |
| Claude |
claude.ai, anthropic.com |
| Bing Chat |
edgeservices.bing.com |
Google AI Overviews
- GA4 + URL fragment: Some AI Overview clicks add URL fragments; can use GTM (partial coverage)
- GSC: For AI Overviews analysis in GSC (filter, limitations), see google-search-console
Checklist
Output Format
- GA4 setup: Exploration, channel group, or custom report
- Regex: Adapted to user's observed sources
Related Skills
- generative-engine-optimization: GEO strategy; AI traffic tracking measures GEO impact
- traffic-analysis: Traffic sources, attribution, UTM
- analytics-tracking: GA4 events and conversions
- google-search-console: GSC AI traffic analysis
- robots-txt: AI crawler allow/block strategy
1---2name: ai-traffic-tracking3description: When the user wants to track AI search traffic in GA4 or GSC. Also use when the user mentions "AI traffic," "ChatGPT referral," "Perplexity traffic," "AI Overviews," "GA4 AI sources," "AI search analytics," "track AI referrals," "AI search traffic," "Claude traffic," or "how to track AI traffic." For AI SEO strategy, use generative-engine-optimization.4---5
6# Analytics: AI Traffic
7
8Guides tracking of AI-driven search traffic in Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console.
9
10**When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.
11
12## Scope
13
14- **AI search traffic**: Track in GA4 and GSC; separate AI sources from organic referral
15- **Google AI Overviews**: AI summary box in Google search (formerly SGE)
16- **AI-driven search**: Traffic from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, etc.
17
18## Why Track Separately
19
20- AI traffic is growing but GA4 often groups it as Referral, Organic, or Direct
21- AI visitors may have stronger intent and higher conversion
22- Separating AI Overviews from organic helps assess AI impact
23
24## GA4: AI-Driven Search
25
26### Option 1: Exploration Report (Recommended)
27
281. **Explore** →**Free form**
292. **Dimensions**: `Session source` (or `Session source / medium`)
303. **Metrics**: Sessions, Engagement rate, Event count, etc.
314. **Filters**: Add filter →`Session source` **Matches regex** →use regex below
325. Configure table, save report
33
34**Regex (common AI sources):**
35
36```
37chatgpt\.com|openai\.com|openai|perplexity\.ai|perplexity|doubao\.com|chat\.qwen\.ai|copilot\.microsoft\.com|copilot\.com|(business\.)?gemini\.google|chat\.deepseek\.com|deepseek\.com|poe\.com|anthropic\.com|claude\.ai|bard\.google\.com|edgeservices\.bing\.com
38```
39
40### Option 2: Custom Channel Group
41
421. **Admin** →**Data Display** →**Channel Groups**
432. Copy default group, name e.g. "Default and AI Chatbots"
443. Add channel "AI Chatbots": `Source` **Matches regex** (same regex)
454. **Important**: Place "AI Chatbots" above "Referral" so it matches first
465. Save and use in Traffic Acquisition
47
48### Option 3: Custom Report
49
501. **Reports** →**Library** →Create Detail Report
512. Use Traffic Acquisition template
523. Add filter: `Session source` **Matches regex** (same regex)
534. Save and add to menu
54
55## Common AI Source Domains
56
57| Platform | GA4 Source examples |
58|----------|---------------------|
59| ChatGPT | chatgpt.com, openai |
60| Perplexity | perplexity.ai, perplexity |
61| Copilot | copilot.com, copilot.microsoft.com |
62| Gemini | business.gemini.google, gemini.google |
63| Claude | claude.ai, anthropic.com |
64| Bing Chat | edgeservices.bing.com |
65
66## Google AI Overviews
67
68- **GA4 + URL fragment**: Some AI Overview clicks add URL fragments; can use GTM (partial coverage)
69- **GSC**: For AI Overviews analysis in GSC (filter, limitations), see **google-search-console**
70
71## Checklist
72
73- [ ] AI sources identified in GA4 (Session Source)
74- [ ] AI traffic Exploration report created
75- [ ] Channel group updated with AI above Referral (if used)
76- [ ] Custom report added to Library (optional)
77- [ ] GTM + URL fragment for AI Overviews (optional)
78- [ ] GSC AI-oriented query filter (optional; see **google-search-console**)
79
80## Output Format
81
82- **GA4 setup**: Exploration, channel group, or custom report
83- **Regex**: Adapted to user's observed sources
84
85## Related Skills
86
87- **generative-engine-optimization**: GEO strategy; AI traffic tracking measures GEO impact
88- **traffic-analysis**: Traffic sources, attribution, UTM
89- **analytics-tracking**: GA4 events and conversions
90- **google-search-console**: GSC AI traffic analysis
91- **robots-txt**: AI crawler allow/block strategy
gabrielmoreira