Video content is growing, but AI engines still favor text. This data shows how often videos appear in AI citations and where they fall short compared to written sources.

Essential Statistics

• Videos appeared in less than 10 percent of AI citations.
• Text-based pages dominated AI references.
• Perplexity cited videos more often than other engines.
• Google AI Overviews rarely surfaced video sources.
• Most cited videos were hosted on YouTube.

Key Takeaways

• AI engines still rely heavily on text sources.
• Video plays a secondary role in AI citations.
• YouTube dominates video-based references.
• Video visibility depends on supporting text.
• Pure video strategies limit AI reach.

Actionable Insights

• Pair video content with strong supporting text so AI engines can interpret context. Video alone is not enough.
• Optimize video pages with transcripts and summaries to increase citation eligibility.
• Do not rely on video as a primary GEO asset. Use it as reinforcement for text content.
• Host videos on authoritative platforms to increase trust signals.
• Measure video success beyond AI citations and focus on assisted impact.

AI prefers content it can quote, not just watch. — Neil Patel