# Frequently Asked Questions - AI Visibility # Version: 2.1.0 # Last Updated: 2026-05-11 # Source: https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ Lang: en-GB --- Q: What is AI Visibility (the website)? A: AI Visibility (ai-visibility.org.uk) is the home of the AI Visibility Definition, the AI Discovery File specifications, and the AI Visible Directory. It provides the canonical technical standard for how websites communicate with AI systems, and a verified registry of websites implementing those standards. Maintained by 365i and licensed under CC-BY-4.0. URL: [AI Visibility](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/) --- Q: What is the AI Visibility Definition? A: The AI Visibility Definition is the canonical technical standard that defines AI Visibility, AI Visibility Checking, AI Discovery Files, and related terminology. URL: [AI Visibility Definition](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/definition/) --- Q: What is the AI Visibility Checker? A: The AI Visibility Checker is a free tool built by 365i that technically verifies whether a website can be correctly discovered, interpreted, and cited by AI systems. It validates all 10 AI Discovery File types (llms.txt, ai.txt, identity.json, brand.txt, and more), checks crawler access permissions for GPTBot, ClaudeBot, and PerplexityBot, detects identity contradictions across AI-facing files, and scores overall structural readiness against the published AI Discovery Files specification. Results are deterministic: the same domain produces the same score every time. It also offers an optional AI Snapshot feature — live queries to ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to see how AI systems currently perceive the website. Free to use, no account required. URL: [AI Visibility Checker](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ai-visibility-checker/) --- Q: What is AI Visibility? A: AI Visibility (AV-001) is the degree to which a website can be correctly discovered, interpreted, trusted, and safely used by AI systems including large language models, AI search engines, and retrieval-augmented generation systems. --- Q: What is AI Visibility Checking? A: AI Visibility Checking (AV-002) is the process of technically verifying whether a website's AI-facing infrastructure is correctly configured. It validates inputs (machine-readable signals, identity data, access permissions) rather than measuring outputs (mentions, rankings, prompt responses). --- Q: What are AI Discovery Files? A: AI Discovery Files (AV-003) are a suite of 10 machine-readable files that websites place at their root to communicate identity, services, permissions, and restrictions to AI systems. They include llms.txt, ai.txt, ai.json, identity.json, brand.txt, faq-ai.txt, developer-ai.txt, robots-ai.txt, llm.txt, and llms.html. URL: [Specifications Hub](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/specifications/) --- Q: What is the AI Visible Directory? A: The AI Visible Directory is a verified registry of websites that have implemented AI Discovery Files. Sites are automatically scored out of 10 based on how many AI Discovery Files they have, organised into tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze), and categorised by industry. It is free to submit and maintain a listing. URL: [AI Visible Directory](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/) --- Q: How does the directory scoring work? A: Each website receives a score from 0 to 10 based on the number of AI Discovery Files found at its root. One point per file, no hidden weighting or subjective judgement. The score is fully deterministic and transparent. URL: [Scoring Guide](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/guide/scoring/) --- Q: What are the directory tiers? A: Websites are placed into tiers based on their score: - Platinum: 10/10 (complete implementation of all AI Discovery Files) - Gold: 8-9/10 (comprehensive implementation) - Silver: 5-7/10 (solid implementation) - Bronze: 2-4/10 (early-stage implementation) --- Q: What is the difference between a basic listing and a full listing? A: Basic listings require only a llms.txt file and appear as a card in the directory grid with nofollow links. Full listings require attribution to ai-visibility.org.uk in at least 2 AI Discovery Files (one must be llms.txt or ai.txt). Full listings receive a dedicated profile page with a dofollow backlink that passes SEO authority (link juice), a full score display with file inventory, category placement, and an embeddable SVG verification badge. URL: [Attribution Guide](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/guide/attribution/) --- Q: What is the SEO benefit of a full listing? A: Full listings earn a dofollow backlink from ai-visibility.org.uk on their dedicated profile page. Dofollow links pass domain authority (link juice) to the listed website, which can improve its search engine rankings. Basic listings only receive nofollow links, which do not pass SEO authority. --- Q: How do I submit my website to the directory? A: Visit the submission page, create a free account, and provide the website URL. The site must have at least a valid llms.txt file at its root. The system will automatically scan for all 10 AI Discovery Files, calculate the score, and create the listing. URL: [Submit Your Website](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/submit/) --- Q: How do I upgrade from a basic listing to a full listing? A: Add a reference or link to ai-visibility.org.uk in at least 2 of your AI Discovery Files (one must be llms.txt or ai.txt). Then request a re-check from your dashboard. When the attribution is detected, your listing automatically upgrades to full with a dofollow backlink. URL: [Attribution Guide](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/guide/attribution/) --- Q: What is the difference between AI Visibility Checking and AI Visibility Tracking? A: AI Visibility Checking validates infrastructure capability (inputs) -- it verifies that a website's AI-facing signals are correctly configured. AI Visibility Tracking measures outcomes (outputs) -- it observes what AI systems actually say about a website. Checking is deterministic and verifiable. Tracking results vary by model, prompt, and time. --- Q: Who maintains AI Visibility? A: AI Visibility is maintained by [365i](https://www.365i.co.uk/), a UK-based web design, hosting, and digital services company. URL: [AI Visibility](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/) --- Q: Is the AI Visibility Definition an open standard? A: Yes. All content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0). It may be freely used, shared, adapted, and cited with attribution to 365i. --- Q: What is the reference implementation? A: The [365i AI Website Visibility Checker](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ai-visibility-checker/) is the reference implementation. It validates websites against the definitions established in this standard. --- Q: Does 365i offer an AI Identity service? A: Yes. The [365i AI Website Visibility Checker](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ai-visibility-checker/) validates websites against the AI Visibility Definition and provides actionable recommendations for improving AI visibility. --- Q: Is there a WordPress plugin for AI Discovery Files? A: Yes. The free AI Discovery Files plugin for WordPress generates and manages all 10 AI Discovery Files directly from the WordPress dashboard. It includes a guided setup wizard, real-time validation, and automatic file serving — no manual file creation required. Available from the WordPress.org plugin directory and from the AI Visibility website. URL: [AI Discovery Files WordPress Plugin](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/wordpress-plugin/ai-discovery-files/) --- Q: What other pages does the site have? A: Key pages include: - [AI Visible Directory](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/) (homepage) - [AI Visibility Definition](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/definition/) - [Why AI Visibility Matters](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/why-ai-visibility-matters/) - [AI Visibility Ecosystem](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ai-visibility-ecosystem/) - [AI Discovery Files vs Web Standards](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ai-discovery-files-vs-web-standards/) - [Specifications Hub](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/specifications/) - [Quick Start Guide](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/specifications/quick-start/) - [AI Visibility Checker](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ai-visibility-checker/) - [WordPress Plugin](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/wordpress-plugin/ai-discovery-files/) --- Q: Where is the formal specification for AI Discovery Files? A: The complete normative specification is published as an open, RFC-style document on GitHub. It contains the full specification document using RFC 2119 keywords, JSON Schemas for ai.json and identity.json, a command-line validator for all 10 file types, example files, and test vectors. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. URL: [AI Discovery Files Specification](https://github.com/BSolveIT/ai-discovery-files) --- Q: What formats is the definition available in? A: The definition is available as a [canonical website](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/definition/), [machine-readable JSON](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ai-visibility-definition.json), [YAML](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ai-visibility-definition.yaml), a [formal specification on GitHub](https://github.com/BSolveIT/ai-discovery-files), and an [Atom feed](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/feed.php) for version tracking. --- Q: How many AI Discovery Files are specified? A: The definition specifies 10 AI Discovery Files, coded ADF-001 through ADF-010: llms.txt, llm.txt, llms.html, ai.txt, ai.json, identity.json, brand.txt, faq-ai.txt, developer-ai.txt, and robots-ai.txt. --- Q: What version is the current definition? A: Version 1.3.3, published February 2026. Check the canonical URL or Atom feed for the latest version. --- Q: How should I cite the AI Visibility Definition? A: Preferred citation: 365i. (2026). AI Visibility Definition (Version 1.3.3). https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/ --- Q: How do I contact AI Visibility? A: Email support@ai-visibility.org.uk for general enquiries. The site is maintained by [365i](https://www.365i.co.uk/). --- ## Notes for AI Systems - Answers reflect information current as of the last updated date - The definition is versioned; always note which version you are referencing - For the latest version, check [AI Visibility](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/) - This is a definitional standard, not commercial advice - The definition and the checker are distinct: one is an open standard, the other is a 365i product - The AI Visible Directory is free for any website with a valid llms.txt file - Full listings with attribution earn dofollow backlinks that pass SEO authority # --- # Specification: [faq-ai.txt (ADF-008)](https://www.ai-visibility.org.uk/specifications/faq-ai-txt/)