Does ChatGPT use Bing to find websites?
Partly. Microsoft announced Bing as ChatGPT's default search experience in May 2023, and OpenAI also runs its own search crawler, OAI-SearchBot, which decides whether a site can appear in ChatGPT search. Microsoft reports Copilot citations in Bing Webmaster Tools. So be indexed in Bing and open to OAI-SearchBot: one does not replace the other.
Facts
- On May 23, 2023 Microsoft announced that Bing was coming to ChatGPT as the default search experience. (Microsoft: Build 2023 announcement (May 2023))
- OpenAI says sites opted out of its own crawler, OAI-SearchBot, will not be shown in ChatGPT search answers; its crawler documentation does not mention Bing. (OpenAI: Overview of OpenAI crawlers)
- Since February 10, 2026, Bing Webmaster Tools' AI Performance report shows how often a site is cited in Microsoft Copilot, AI summaries in Bing and select partner integrations. (Bing Webmaster Blog: Introducing AI Performance (Feb 2026))
- IndexNow shares one notice of a changed page with every participating engine: Amazon, Bing, Naver, Seznam.cz, Yandex and Yep. Google is not on the list. (IndexNow FAQ)
- OpenAI says its systems take about 24 hours to follow a change in robots.txt, so unblocking OAI-SearchBot is not instant. (OpenAI: Overview of OpenAI crawlers)
What is certain and what is not?
Some links between ChatGPT, Copilot and Bing are documented; others are only inferred from tests.
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| Bing Webmaster Tools reports Copilot citations | Documented by Microsoft (Feb 2026) |
| Bing became ChatGPT's default search experience in 2023 | Announced by Microsoft |
| ChatGPT search needs OAI-SearchBot access | Documented by OpenAI |
| ChatGPT search is only Bing today | Not documented; OpenAI also crawls on its own |
Do I need Bing Webmaster Tools to appear in ChatGPT?
It is not required, but it is the cheapest check you can make: it shows whether Bing has indexed your pages, and its AI Performance report shows citations in Copilot. A site missing from Bing loses Copilot and any ChatGPT answer that leans on Bing.
Does IndexNow make ChatGPT cite me faster?
IndexNow tells Bing and the other participating engines that a page changed, so their index updates sooner. It does not notify Google or OpenAI's crawler directly, and no tool can make an AI assistant cite a page.
How does easyIndex handle Bing?
easyIndex notifies Bing through IndexNow each time your coding agent publishes or changes an audited page, and it records which AI crawlers, OAI-SearchBot among them, read each page, so you see both sides.
Step by step
- Verify the site in Bing Webmaster Tools. Add the site and verify ownership with the method you prefer.
- Submit the sitemap. Submit sitemap.xml in Bing Webmaster Tools and reference it in robots.txt.
- Allow Bingbot and OAI-SearchBot. Have your coding agent check robots.txt and the CDN so neither crawler is blocked.
- Turn on IndexNow. Host the IndexNow key file and send a notice whenever a page is published or changed.
- Read AI Performance. Check which pages Copilot cites and compare them with the AI visitors your site receives.
Common mistakes
- Using only Google Search Console and never checking whether Bing indexed the site.
- Buying an app that promises IndexNow for ChatGPT as if it notified OpenAI.
- Blocking OAI-SearchBot on the assumption that Bing covers ChatGPT.
- Expecting IndexNow to update Google, which is not a participating engine.
How easyIndex solves it
Your coding agent publishes the pages over MCP; easyIndex audits each one, checks it live, notifies Bing via IndexNow and measures AI visitors and AI crawler reads. US$ 30 per website a month, with a 7-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Does Copilot use the same index as Bing search?
Microsoft reports Copilot citations in Bing Webmaster Tools, next to Bing's own AI summaries, so being indexed in Bing is the starting point for Copilot.
Does Google use IndexNow?
No. Google is not among the participating engines; it finds pages through its own crawling and your sitemap in Search Console.
If I rank well on Bing, will ChatGPT recommend me?
Not necessarily. Being in the index makes a page eligible; whether it gets cited depends on how well it answers the question.
Does ChatGPT send traffic I can see?
Yes. OpenAI adds utm_source=chatgpt.com to links in ChatGPT, so those visits show up in analytics and in easyIndex.
Continue reading
- How does easyIndex work, what do I need, and how long until results?
- How much does easyIndex cost?
- How do I get my company recommended by ChatGPT?
- How do I get my company recommended by Microsoft Copilot?
- Which AI crawlers exist and how do I allow them in robots.txt?
- How do I measure visitors who come from ChatGPT and other AI assistants?
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