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llms.txt GeneratorThe median citation lifespan is 0 days
The median citation lifespan in the decay study is 0 days.
In The Half-Life of AI Citations study, researchers analyzed the persistence of AI-generated citations and found that the majority disappear immediately upon subsequent queries.
The numbers behind it.
- Median citation lifespan
- Most citations disappear immediately.
- 0 days
The evidence.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Median citation lifespan Most citations disappear immediately. | 0 days |
Population and method
Built from 857,138 reports, 108,650 citations, 10,991 brands, and 8 tracked models across a 10-month observation window.
Where the evidence stops
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.
What to do with this
Strategists and operators must treat AI-generated citations as ephemeral. Relying on citation persistence as a metric for brand visibility or content authority is fundamentally flawed, requiring a shift toward measuring initial generation rates rather than long-term retention.
Cite this fact.
Source study: Citation Decay“The median citation lifespan in the decay study is 0 days.”
The Half-Life of AI Citations - Trakkr Research · The median citation lifespan is 0 days
The Half-Life of AI Citations · Trakkr Research · Updated 30 March 2026