There’s been buzz about growth hacks that encourage readers to “share” your content into ChatGPT or other AI tools. The claim: if people mention your site inside AI chats, the AI will be more likely to recommend you later.
Two common misunderstandings make this idea sound bigger than it is.
Chat Memory Stays within Profiles
If a user has a paid AI account with persistent memory, then yes – referencing your site in their chats may make that user’s AI more likely to recall it later. But:
- Free accounts often have short-lived history. Once old chats are erased, the reference is gone.
- If the AI has no memory at all (incognito sessions, stateless tools), the mention disappears immediately.
Unless your audience is mostly on paid, memory-enabled accounts, the effect is limited.
Chats Don’t Train AI
When a user mentions your site in their chat, that reference stays in that user’s memory profile (if memory is on). It does not feed into the AI’s training or citations. (Your chats with AI do not get used in the wider training data.)
- The AI isn’t storing your site as “globally trusted” – it’s just storing info that this user liked it.
- You’re not raising your authority in AI nor is it more likely that it will recommend you to strangers.
How AI Actually Trains Itself
AI tools use your valuable content in two very different ways:
A. Training (long-term AI ‘memory’)
- Requires the content to be included in training data before the AI tool is released, or in later versions.
- This is not updated in real time.
- A mention in someone’s chat history doesn’t get added to the training data.
B. Retrieval from the Web (real-time answers)
- AI will use it’s training database to fetch answers and if needed or requested (And enabled), it will search the web.
- Website content can be cited even if it is not in the training data.
- This is the real way to get your content in front of new users: being visible to AI bots.
Should Content Creators Use Share to AI Buttons?
It depends! Do you need to stay top of mind with your existing users? and Are they AI Users? Then for sure, test out the “Share to AI” buttons! They can help with brand recognition.
But, do you need to reach new readers and users? Then work on visibility and authority around the web. It isn’t about links anymore – it is about the visibility of your content among authorities in your niche. Read about PR as the new SEO.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need to stay top of mind with your existing readers – and they use AI – then it is worth a test! If you are using this as a strategy for growth or reach – it will not work! ~ Cathy @ WPBarista
We think that being visible in AI citations is a valuable thing for your brand and your reach. So we think and advise our clients to never block AI. Share your content with AI, in the same way you share it with your readers. ~ Cathy @ WPBarista
That is becoming an entire industry. To sum it up – work on your content visibility. And it happens that the old fashioned sources of authority are still valuable – be referenced by authorities in your niche publicly, offline and online. Use PR. Use SEO. Meet the needs of your users and readers in a clear valuable way. ~ Cathy @ WPBarista
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Cathy Mitchell
Single Mom, Volunteer, Lifelong Learner, Jesus Follower, Founder and CEO at WPBarista.