In a recent LinkedIn post, Ann Smarty critically examines the popular notion of creating “AI-friendly” content with the goal of earning citations. Smarty, a prominent figure in the SEO and content marketing space, questions the current understanding and strategic approach to how citations might influence or be recognized by Large Language Models (LLMs).
Ann Smarty highlights the speculative nature of current advice, stating:
“GEO “experts” like talking about creating “AI-friendly” content that gets cited. But how much do we know about LLM citations overall?”
The core of Smarty’s argument revolves around the lack of concrete data and predictable outcomes regarding AI citations. She points out that the mechanisms by which LLMs might use or reference source material are still largely opaque.
Unpacking the Ambiguity of LLM Citations
Smarty challenges the prevailing trends in SEO that suggest specific optimization strategies can guarantee AI citations or influence AI-generated answers. According to her analysis, the relationship between content and AI recognition is far from straightforward.
She elaborates on this uncertainty:
“There are no “ranking factors” or predictability here. Citations may or may not influence an AI answer. Pages may be used for an answer but never referenced, etc.”
This lack of clarity, Ann Smarty suggests, makes the concept of “citability” for AI purposes vague and difficult to strategize around effectively. The implications for content creators and SEO professionals are significant, as traditional methods of building authority through citations may not translate directly to the AI-driven content landscape.
The Vague “Citability” Strategy
Ann Smarty further contends that the strategies being promoted to enhance content’s “citability” by AI are equally ill-defined. Without a clear understanding of how LLMs process and attribute information, any optimization efforts risk being based on assumptions rather than established principles.
As Ann Smarty puts it:
“The “citability” concept is pretty vague… So is the optimization strategy.”
She implies that the focus might be misplaced, diverting attention from fundamental content quality and user value towards speculative AI-centric tactics. Smarty’s post serves as a call for more empirical research and a more cautious approach to adopting new SEO paradigms related to AI.
In her newsletter, Ann Smarty indicates that she plans to share further insights into what is known about how citations function, inviting discussion and encouraging a collaborative exploration of this evolving area. Her perspective underscores the need for a critical evaluation of emerging trends in AI and SEO, emphasizing that clarity and evidence should guide strategy.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Ann Smarty on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on May 6, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →