{
  "kind": "fact",
  "studySlug": "query-translation",
  "slug": "ai-injects-current-year-terms-in-about-one-quarter-of-searches",
  "title": "AI injects current-year terms in about one quarter of searches",
  "description": "An analysis of 11,521 prompt-to-query transformations revealed that artificial intelligence systems injected a current-year term into 2,956 queries during the rewrite process.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-01-22",
  "lastTested": "2026-01-22",
  "sourceStudyUrl": "/trakkr-research/query-translation",
  "sourceStudyTitle": "How AI Translates Your Questions",
  "claimIds": [
    "query-translation:year-injection",
    "query-translation:pairs"
  ],
  "relatedSlugs": [
    "answer:does-ai-turn-vague-prompts-into-lists-and-best-of-queries",
    "answer:does-ai-insert-brand-names-that-users-never-mentioned",
    "tracker:query-transformation-severity-tracker"
  ],
  "methodologySummary": "Built from 11,521 captured prompt-to-query pairs observed in OpenAI web search calls, with 100% search-query coverage in the sampled dataset.",
  "limitations": [
    "This study reflects captured search-query transformations rather than every hidden retrieval step a model may perform.",
    "Some inserted entities reflect category heuristics or market leaders rather than final recommendation outcomes.",
    "The underlying dataset is concentrated in commercial and research prompts rather than all possible conversational traffic."
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "query translation",
    "AI search rewrites",
    "prompt rewriting",
    "AI retrieval behavior"
  ],
  "schemaHints": {
    "pageType": "Article",
    "includeDataset": true
  },
  "claim": "AI added a year term in 25.66% of observed query rewrites.",
  "supportingMetrics": [
    {
      "label": "Year injection rate",
      "value": "25.66%",
      "detail": "2,956 queries injected a year term."
    },
    {
      "label": "Prompt-query pairs",
      "value": "11,521",
      "detail": "Captured prompt-to-query transformations."
    }
  ],
  "whyItMatters": "Current-year framing operates as a primary retrieval signal before functioning as a ranking or citation signal. Strategists must ensure content is explicitly dated to align with automated temporal query expansions.",
  "citationBlock": {
    "quote": "AI added a year term in 25.66% of observed query rewrites.",
    "attribution": "How AI Translates Your Questions - Trakkr Research",
    "url": "https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/query-translation/facts/ai-injects-current-year-terms-in-about-one-quarter-of-searches"
  }
}