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How the AI search volume metric works in LLM Mentions

While working with endpoints of the LLM Mentions API, you may notice that the values of ai_search_volume for the same keyword may vary significantly depending on the selected platform type. The difference in values of ai_search_volume for Google and ChatGPT is natural because ai_search_volume is calculated differently for both platforms.

Let’s explain to you how.

1 AI search volume for Google AI Overview mentions

If you choose google as a platform type while sending a request, the ai_search_volume values are derived directly from the Google Search Volume. That’s because the mentions data is captured for AI Overview features, which appear as features in Google SERPs. Thus, the search volume data can be sourced from the same Google keyword data used in traditional SEO keyword research.

For example, let’s assess the AI search volume of the keyword “renault” in Google AI Overviews for the United States. The Aggregated Metrics endpoint is the best suited for this task.

POST: https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/ai_optimization/llm_mentions/aggregated_metrics/live

Request example:

[
  {
    "platform": "google",
    "target": [
      {
        "keyword": "renault",
        "search_scope": [
          "answer"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "location_name": "United States"
  }
]

Response example:

{
  "version": "0.1.20260311",
  "status_code": 20000,
  "status_message": "Ok.",
  "time": "6.9014 sec.",
  "cost": 0.101,
  "tasks_count": 1,
  "tasks_error": 0,
  "tasks": [
    {
      "id": "03121757-1535-0635-0000-fb4dfebc6347",
      "status_code": 20000,
      "status_message": "Ok.",
      "time": "6.8458 sec.",
      "cost": 0.101,
      "result_count": 1,
      "path": [
        "v3",
        "ai_optimization",
        "llm_mentions",
        "aggregated_metrics",
        "live"
      ],
      "data": {
        "api": "ai_optimization",
        "function": "aggregated_metrics",
        "platform": "google",
        "target": [
          {
            "keyword": "renault",
            "search_scope": [
              "answer"
            ]
          }
        ],
        "location_name": "United States"
      },
      "result": [
        {
          "total": {
            "location": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "2840",
                "mentions": 13354,
                "ai_search_volume": 7383810,
                "impressions": 98603398740
              }
            ],
            "language": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "en",
                "mentions": 13135,
                "ai_search_volume": 6016010,
                "impressions": 79020291350
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "es",
                "mentions": 219,
                "ai_search_volume": 1367800,
                "impressions": 299548200
              }
            ],
            "platform": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "google",
                "mentions": 13354,
                "ai_search_volume": 7383810,
                "impressions": 98603398740
              }
            ],
            "sources_domain": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.youtube.com",
                "mentions": 6331,
                "ai_search_volume": 3207310,
                "impressions": 20305479610
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "en.wikipedia.org",
                "mentions": 5578,
                "ai_search_volume": 4221030,
                "impressions": 23544905340
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.reddit.com",
                "mentions": 2562,
                "ai_search_volume": 1254590,
                "impressions": 3214259580
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.facebook.com",
                "mentions": 1921,
                "ai_search_volume": 1019860,
                "impressions": 1959151060
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.carwale.com",
                "mentions": 775,
                "ai_search_volume": 189340,
                "impressions": 146738500
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.cardekho.com",
                "mentions": 784,
                "ai_search_volume": 185880,
                "impressions": 145729920
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.formula1.com",
                "mentions": 737,
                "ai_search_volume": 383730,
                "impressions": 282809010
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.quora.com",
                "mentions": 671,
                "ai_search_volume": 245540,
                "impressions": 164757340
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.carwow.co.uk",
                "mentions": 628,
                "ai_search_volume": 259440,
                "impressions": 162928320
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.topgear.com",
                "mentions": 607,
                "ai_search_volume": 243500,
                "impressions": 147804500
              }
            ],
            "search_results_domain": null,
            "brand_entities_title": null,
            "brand_entities_category": null
          },
          "items": null
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

In the location array of the result, you can see that the ai_search_volume of the keyword “renault” in the US is 7383810.

2 AI search volume for ChatGPT mentions

For the chat_gpt platform type, the ai_search_volume is calculated using a special algorithm. The algorithm calculates search volume based on the data from the Google’s People Also Ask section, which is significantly important for ChatGPT. The People Also Ask sections suggest related queries in a question-answer format, displaying questions relevant to the target topic.

For LLMs such as ChatGPT, these conversational queries are seen as useful and considered when generating responses. Thus, to calculate ChatGPT AI search volume, we collect all People Also Ask questions that include the target keyword and count them.

Let’s make another request to the Aggregation Metrics endpoint to see whether the search volume for the “renault” keyword in ChatGPT differs from that in Google AI Overviews.

POST: https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/ai_optimization/llm_mentions/aggregated_metrics/live

Request example:

[
  {
    "platform": "chat_gpt",
    "target": [
      {
        "keyword": "renault",
        "search_scope": [
          "answer"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "location_name": "United States"
  }
]

Response example:

{
  "version": "0.1.20260311",
  "status_code": 20000,
  "status_message": "Ok.",
  "time": "5.9934 sec.",
  "cost": 0.101,
  "tasks_count": 1,
  "tasks_error": 0,
  "tasks": [
    {
      "id": "03121759-1535-0635-0000-c2672f8ffbe6",
      "status_code": 20000,
      "status_message": "Ok.",
      "time": "5.9168 sec.",
      "cost": 0.101,
      "result_count": 1,
      "path": [
        "v3",
        "ai_optimization",
        "llm_mentions",
        "aggregated_metrics",
        "live"
      ],
      "data": {
        "api": "ai_optimization",
        "function": "aggregated_metrics",
        "platform": "chat_gpt",
        "target": [
          {
            "keyword": "renault",
            "search_scope": [
              "answer"
            ]
          }
        ],
        "location_name": "United States"
      },
      "result": [
        {
          "total": {
            "location": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "2840",
                "mentions": 2279,
                "ai_search_volume": 59196,
                "impressions": 134907684
              }
            ],
            "language": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "en",
                "mentions": 2279,
                "ai_search_volume": 59196,
                "impressions": 134907684
              }
            ],
            "platform": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "chat_gpt",
                "mentions": 2279,
                "ai_search_volume": 59196,
                "impressions": 134907684
              }
            ],
            "sources_domain": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "en.wikipedia.org",
                "mentions": 582,
                "ai_search_volume": 15383,
                "impressions": 8952906
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.reddit.com",
                "mentions": 151,
                "ai_search_volume": 4567,
                "impressions": 689617
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "carinterior.alibaba.com",
                "mentions": 80,
                "ai_search_volume": 2590,
                "impressions": 207200
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "anusedcar.com",
                "mentions": 31,
                "ai_search_volume": 1628,
                "impressions": 50468
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.caranddriver.com",
                "mentions": 39,
                "ai_search_volume": 942,
                "impressions": 36738
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.formula1.com",
                "mentions": 24,
                "ai_search_volume": 386,
                "impressions": 9264
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.motor1.com",
                "mentions": 39,
                "ai_search_volume": 889,
                "impressions": 34671
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.alibaba.com",
                "mentions": 27,
                "ai_search_volume": 1039,
                "impressions": 28053
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.reuters.com",
                "mentions": 26,
                "ai_search_volume": 561,
                "impressions": 14586
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "autos.yahoo.com",
                "mentions": 31,
                "ai_search_volume": 876,
                "impressions": 27156
              }
            ],
            "search_results_domain": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.autoevolution.com",
                "mentions": 194,
                "ai_search_volume": 5475,
                "impressions": 1062150
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "carinterior.alibaba.com",
                "mentions": 147,
                "ai_search_volume": 5132,
                "impressions": 754404
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "autos.yahoo.com",
                "mentions": 128,
                "ai_search_volume": 5279,
                "impressions": 675712
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.motor1.com",
                "mentions": 121,
                "ai_search_volume": 3614,
                "impressions": 437294
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.accio.com",
                "mentions": 83,
                "ai_search_volume": 3543,
                "impressions": 294069
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.caranddriver.com",
                "mentions": 91,
                "ai_search_volume": 2868,
                "impressions": 260988
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.motortrend.com",
                "mentions": 88,
                "ai_search_volume": 2771,
                "impressions": 243848
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.formula1.com",
                "mentions": 44,
                "ai_search_volume": 1154,
                "impressions": 50776
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "anusedcar.com",
                "mentions": 53,
                "ai_search_volume": 2524,
                "impressions": 133772
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.carscoops.com",
                "mentions": 67,
                "ai_search_volume": 1961,
                "impressions": 131387
              }
            ],
            "brand_entities_title": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Renault",
                "mentions": 47,
                "ai_search_volume": 826,
                "impressions": 38822
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance",
                "mentions": 15,
                "ai_search_volume": 188,
                "impressions": 2820
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "BMW",
                "mentions": 14,
                "ai_search_volume": 341,
                "impressions": 4774
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.",
                "mentions": 14,
                "ai_search_volume": 335,
                "impressions": 4690
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Alpine",
                "mentions": 13,
                "ai_search_volume": 235,
                "impressions": 3055
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Renault Group",
                "mentions": 12,
                "ai_search_volume": 292,
                "impressions": 3504
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Alpine F1 Team",
                "mentions": 10,
                "ai_search_volume": 161,
                "impressions": 1610
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Citroën",
                "mentions": 10,
                "ai_search_volume": 228,
                "impressions": 2280
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Mercedes-Benz",
                "mentions": 10,
                "ai_search_volume": 272,
                "impressions": 2720
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Mitsubishi Motors",
                "mentions": 10,
                "ai_search_volume": 156,
                "impressions": 1560
              }
            ],
            "brand_entities_category": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "brand",
                "mentions": 60,
                "ai_search_volume": 708,
                "impressions": 42480
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "car",
                "mentions": 99,
                "ai_search_volume": 1706,
                "impressions": 168894
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "organization",
                "mentions": 82,
                "ai_search_volume": 1360,
                "impressions": 111520
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "company",
                "mentions": 29,
                "ai_search_volume": 734,
                "impressions": 21286
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "vehicle",
                "mentions": 38,
                "ai_search_volume": 761,
                "impressions": 28918
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "people",
                "mentions": 44,
                "ai_search_volume": 811,
                "impressions": 35684
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "sports_team",
                "mentions": 30,
                "ai_search_volume": 584,
                "impressions": 17520
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "local_business",
                "mentions": 14,
                "ai_search_volume": 229,
                "impressions": 3206
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "product",
                "mentions": 18,
                "ai_search_volume": 463,
                "impressions": 8334
              },
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "book",
                "mentions": 3,
                "ai_search_volume": 83,
                "impressions": 249
              }
            ]
          },
          "items": null
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

As you can see, in the locations array, the ai_search_volume of the target keyword in ChatGPT is 59196, which is significantly lower than in the AI Overviews.

In short, the ai_search_volume for Google and ChatGPT differs because this metric reflects query popularity on each platform independently and is calculated differently.

3 AI search volume in aggregation endpoints

Besides, it is worth noting that in aggregation endpoints (Aggregated Metrics, Cross Aggregated Metrics, Top Domains, and Top Pages), we separately provide the total ai_search_volume value. The total search volume is calculated as the sum of the AI search volumes for all LLM mentions found for a specific target (or a set of targets in Cross Aggregated Metrics).

Let’s demonstrate where you can find total ai_search_volume using the Top Domains endpoint as an example.

POST: https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/ai_optimization/llm_mentions/top_domains/live

Request example:

[
  {
    "platform": "chat_gpt",
    "target": [
      {
        "keyword": "renault",
        "search_scope": [
          "answer"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "location_name": "United States",
    "internal_list_limit": 1
  }
]

Response example:

{
  "version": "0.1.20260311",
  "status_code": 20000,
  "status_message": "Ok.",
  "time": "5.5604 sec.",
  "cost": 0.101,
  "tasks_count": 1,
  "tasks_error": 0,
  "tasks": [
    {
      "id": "03121801-1535-0637-0000-f7952f0c1eee",
      "status_code": 20000,
      "status_message": "Ok.",
      "time": "5.5051 sec.",
      "cost": 0.101,
      "result_count": 1,
      "path": [
        "v3",
        "ai_optimization",
        "llm_mentions",
        "top_domains",
        "live"
      ],
      "data": {
        "api": "ai_optimization",
        "function": "top_domains",
        "platform": "chat_gpt",
        "target": [
          {
            "keyword": "renault",
            "search_scope": [
              "answer"
            ]
          }
        ],
        "location_name": "United States",
        "internal_list_limit": 1
      },
      "result": [
        {
          "total": {
            "location": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "2840",
                "mentions": 1349,
                "ai_search_volume": 37526,
                "impressions": 50622574
              }
            ],
            "language": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "en",
                "mentions": 1349,
                "ai_search_volume": 37526,
                "impressions": 50622574
              }
            ],
            "platform": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "chat_gpt",
                "mentions": 1349,
                "ai_search_volume": 37526,
                "impressions": 50622574
              }
            ],
            "sources_domain": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "en.wikipedia.org",
                "mentions": 582,
                "ai_search_volume": 15383,
                "impressions": 8952906
              }
            ],
            "search_results_domain": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "www.autoevolution.com",
                "mentions": 173,
                "ai_search_volume": 4969,
                "impressions": 859637
              }
            ],
            "brand_entities_title": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "Renault",
                "mentions": 41,
                "ai_search_volume": 758,
                "impressions": 31078
              }
            ],
            "brand_entities_category": [
              {
                "type": "group_element",
                "key": "brand",
                "mentions": 60,
                "ai_search_volume": 708,
                "impressions": 42480
              }
            ]
          },
          "items": [
            {
              "key": "en.wikipedia.org",
              "location": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "2840",
                  "mentions": 582,
                  "ai_search_volume": 15383,
                  "impressions": 8952906
                }
              ],
              "language": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "en",
                  "mentions": 582,
                  "ai_search_volume": 15383,
                  "impressions": 8952906
                }
              ],
              "platform": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "chat_gpt",
                  "mentions": 582,
                  "ai_search_volume": 15383,
                  "impressions": 8952906
                }
              ],
              "sources_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "en.wikipedia.org",
                  "mentions": 582,
                  "ai_search_volume": 15383,
                  "impressions": 8952906
                }
              ],
              "search_results_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "www.autoevolution.com",
                  "mentions": 82,
                  "ai_search_volume": 1858,
                  "impressions": 152356
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_title": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "Renault",
                  "mentions": 26,
                  "ai_search_volume": 489,
                  "impressions": 12714
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_category": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "organization",
                  "mentions": 55,
                  "ai_search_volume": 1020,
                  "impressions": 56100
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "key": "www.reddit.com",
              "location": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "2840",
                  "mentions": 151,
                  "ai_search_volume": 4567,
                  "impressions": 689617
                }
              ],
              "language": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "en",
                  "mentions": 151,
                  "ai_search_volume": 4567,
                  "impressions": 689617
                }
              ],
              "platform": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "chat_gpt",
                  "mentions": 151,
                  "ai_search_volume": 4567,
                  "impressions": 689617
                }
              ],
              "sources_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "www.reddit.com",
                  "mentions": 151,
                  "ai_search_volume": 4567,
                  "impressions": 689617
                }
              ],
              "search_results_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "carinterior.alibaba.com",
                  "mentions": 19,
                  "ai_search_volume": 627,
                  "impressions": 11913
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_title": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "Hyundai i20",
                  "mentions": 2,
                  "ai_search_volume": 23,
                  "impressions": 46
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_category": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "car",
                  "mentions": 10,
                  "ai_search_volume": 362,
                  "impressions": 3620
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "key": "carinterior.alibaba.com",
              "location": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "2840",
                  "mentions": 74,
                  "ai_search_volume": 2400,
                  "impressions": 177600
                }
              ],
              "language": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "en",
                  "mentions": 74,
                  "ai_search_volume": 2400,
                  "impressions": 177600
                }
              ],
              "platform": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "chat_gpt",
                  "mentions": 74,
                  "ai_search_volume": 2400,
                  "impressions": 177600
                }
              ],
              "sources_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "carinterior.alibaba.com",
                  "mentions": 74,
                  "ai_search_volume": 2400,
                  "impressions": 177600
                }
              ],
              "search_results_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "carinterior.alibaba.com",
                  "mentions": 46,
                  "ai_search_volume": 1611,
                  "impressions": 74106
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_title": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "Alpine",
                  "mentions": 1,
                  "ai_search_volume": 113,
                  "impressions": 113
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_category": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "car",
                  "mentions": 6,
                  "ai_search_volume": 276,
                  "impressions": 1656
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "key": "anusedcar.com",
              "location": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "2840",
                  "mentions": 31,
                  "ai_search_volume": 1628,
                  "impressions": 50468
                }
              ],
              "language": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "en",
                  "mentions": 31,
                  "ai_search_volume": 1628,
                  "impressions": 50468
                }
              ],
              "platform": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "chat_gpt",
                  "mentions": 31,
                  "ai_search_volume": 1628,
                  "impressions": 50468
                }
              ],
              "sources_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "anusedcar.com",
                  "mentions": 31,
                  "ai_search_volume": 1628,
                  "impressions": 50468
                }
              ],
              "search_results_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "anusedcar.com",
                  "mentions": 22,
                  "ai_search_volume": 1091,
                  "impressions": 24002
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_title": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "Alpine",
                  "mentions": 6,
                  "ai_search_volume": 147,
                  "impressions": 882
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_category": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "brand",
                  "mentions": 6,
                  "ai_search_volume": 45,
                  "impressions": 270
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "key": "www.caranddriver.com",
              "location": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "2840",
                  "mentions": 35,
                  "ai_search_volume": 881,
                  "impressions": 30835
                }
              ],
              "language": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "en",
                  "mentions": 35,
                  "ai_search_volume": 881,
                  "impressions": 30835
                }
              ],
              "platform": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "chat_gpt",
                  "mentions": 35,
                  "ai_search_volume": 881,
                  "impressions": 30835
                }
              ],
              "sources_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "www.caranddriver.com",
                  "mentions": 35,
                  "ai_search_volume": 881,
                  "impressions": 30835
                }
              ],
              "search_results_domain": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "www.caranddriver.com",
                  "mentions": 13,
                  "ai_search_volume": 259,
                  "impressions": 3367
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_title": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "Alpine",
                  "mentions": 2,
                  "ai_search_volume": 135,
                  "impressions": 270
                }
              ],
              "brand_entities_category": [
                {
                  "type": "group_element",
                  "key": "car",
                  "mentions": 3,
                  "ai_search_volume": 107,
                  "impressions": 321
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

In the result, you can find the total ai_search_volume value in the total object before the items array.

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