{
  "kind": "answer",
  "studySlug": "citation-decay",
  "slug": "how-long-do-ai-citations-last",
  "title": "How long do AI citations last?",
  "description": "An analysis of the lifespan of AI citations based on the study The Half-Life of AI Citations.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-03-30",
  "lastTested": "2026-03-30",
  "sourceStudyUrl": "/trakkr-research/citation-decay",
  "sourceStudyTitle": "The Half-Life of AI Citations",
  "claimIds": [
    "citation-decay:median-life",
    "citation-decay:mean-life",
    "citation-decay:one-and-done"
  ],
  "relatedSlugs": [
    "answer:what-does-a-thirty-one-day-brand-half-life-actually-mean",
    "answer:are-most-ai-citations-one-and-done",
    "fact:nearly-three-quarters-of-citations-appear-once-and-vanish",
    "tracker:citation-persistence-tracker"
  ],
  "methodologySummary": "Built from 857,138 reports, 108,650 citations, 10,991 brands, and 8 tracked models across a 10-month observation window.",
  "limitations": [
    "Decay describes observed persistence, not the full causal mechanism behind why a citation disappears.",
    "Brand- and domain-level averages can hide very different retention patterns by query class or model.",
    "Some of the stickiest or most volatile domains come from niche query pockets and should be read as examples, not universal leaders."
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "citation decay",
    "AI half life",
    "AI citation persistence",
    "AI visibility churn",
    "how long AI citations last",
    "citation lifespan"
  ],
  "schemaHints": {
    "pageType": "Article",
    "includeDataset": true
  },
  "question": "How long do AI citations last?",
  "directAnswer": "Usually not long. The median citation lifespan is 0 days, the mean is 6.8 days, and 72.8% of citations appear once and then vanish.",
  "answerSummary": "AI citation visibility is highly perishable, requiring continuous monitoring rather than relying on static visibility metrics.",
  "keyFacts": [
    {
      "label": "Median citation lifespan",
      "value": "0 days",
      "detail": "Most citations disappear immediately.",
      "claimId": "citation-decay:median-life"
    },
    {
      "label": "Mean citation lifespan",
      "value": "6.8 days",
      "detail": "Average URL lifespan across the sample.",
      "claimId": "citation-decay:mean-life"
    },
    {
      "label": "One-and-done citations",
      "value": "72.8%",
      "detail": "Citations that appear once and vanish.",
      "claimId": "citation-decay:one-and-done"
    }
  ],
  "evidenceTable": [
    {
      "label": "Median citation lifespan",
      "value": "0 days",
      "note": "Most citations disappear immediately."
    },
    {
      "label": "Mean citation lifespan",
      "value": "6.8 days",
      "note": "Average URL lifespan across the sample."
    },
    {
      "label": "One-and-done citations",
      "value": "72.8%",
      "note": "Citations that appear once and vanish."
    }
  ],
  "whyItMatters": "Operators must adjust measurement frameworks to account for rapid decay, ensuring publishing and refresh cycles align with actual citation lifespans rather than traditional search timelines.",
  "whatToDo": [
    "Measure visibility as a moving system instead of a one-time citation snapshot.",
    "Refresh and monitor citation-driving pages on the cadence your models actually decay.",
    "Separate durable wins from temporary spikes to avoid overreacting to short-lived mentions."
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "What is the average lifespan of an AI citation?",
      "answer": "The mean citation lifespan is 6.8 days, while the median citation lifespan is 0 days."
    },
    {
      "question": "How often do citations disappear immediately?",
      "answer": "The study shows that 72.8% of citations are one-and-done, meaning they appear once and then vanish."
    }
  ]
}