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llms.txt GeneratorOnly 6.8% of citations are still active at the end of the window
Only 6.8% of citations are still active at the end of the observation window.
Persistence is the exception rather than the rule.
The numbers behind it.
- Still active citations
- Small share of URLs still active at the end of the window.
- 6.8%
The evidence.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Still active citations Small share of URLs still active at the end of the window. | 6.8% |
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 account for rapid link rot in AI generated outputs. Because long-tail citation survival is exceptionally weak, teams should build systems that expect constant reshuffling and implement robust archiving mechanisms rather than relying on persistent external URLs.
Cite this fact.
Source study: Citation Decay“Only 6.8% of citations are still active at the end of the observation window.”
The Half-Life of AI Citations - Trakkr Research · Only 6.8% of citations are still active at the end of the window
The Half-Life of AI Citations · Trakkr Research · Updated 30 March 2026