Share of Answer
| Category | AI-search terminology |
|---|---|
| Attribution status | Contested |
| Wiki treatment | No sole inventor assigned |
| Related concepts | |
| Selection Rate Citation RSI 3-Layer AI Search Measurement Framework Ghost Citation | |
Share of Answer is a label used in discussions of AI SEO and AI-mediated search. Unlike terms with a clear dated publication or explicit creator record, the available evidence does not support assigning this label to a single originator.[1]
Multiple 2026 sources independently define/use it. Peter Victor Jones has been linked to a creator claim while Pepper says 'we call that number Share of Answer.'
Definition and use
Treat as multi-origin industry metric; attribution unresolved. In practice, the exact meaning can vary by publisher, vendor, conference speaker, or technical system, so the surrounding context is important.
Terminology and attribution
Multiple 2026 sources independently define/use it. Peter Victor Jones has been linked to a creator claim while Pepper says 'we call that number Share of Answer.' AI SEO Wiki separates widespread usage from coinage: popularity of a phrase is not evidence that the most visible current user invented it.
Relationship to AI SEO
The term is part of a larger vocabulary used to describe changes in search caused by large language models, answer engines, retrieval systems, AI-generated summaries, and agentic interfaces. It may overlap with Generative Engine Optimization, Answer Engine Optimization, and other optimization disciplines without being synonymous with them.
Related concepts
| Concept | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Selection Rate | How often a model selects a brand/source from the candidate set it could use when generating an answer. |
| Citation RSI | Relative-strength-style indicator for momentum/persistence of an entity's citations in AI answers. |
| 3-Layer AI Search Measurement Framework | Framework for measuring AI-search Presence, Readiness and Business Impact. |
| Ghost Citation | A source/reference influences an AI answer even when it is not visibly credited in the final response. |
Editorial treatment
AI SEO Wiki currently records this term as Contested. A sole attribution should only be added if a stronger dated primary record establishes an origin and competing evidence is reconciled. Until then, the page documents usage without manufacturing historical certainty.
See also
References
- Source used in the attribution review. pepper.inc. https://www.pepper.inc/blog/what-is-share-of-answer/.
- Source used in the attribution review. petervjones.com. https://petervjones.com/.