Are You Using Bing Webmaster Tools to Unlock the Power of AI Grounding Queries on Your Site?

Bing Webmaster Tools’ latest AI Performance dashboard update is more than just another analytics tweak—it’s a window into how Microsoft’s AI surfaces your content in real-world retrievals. With the new grounding queries feature, webmasters can now see the precise retrieval phrases AI uses to cite site pages in Bing and Copilot, offering a distinct advantage over traditional user search data. This blog unpacks what’s new since the February rollout, clarifies what’s stayed the same, and shows you how to use these insights to enhance your site’s authority in AI-powered citations. If your site is verified in Bing Webmaster Tools, now is the time to leverage these AI grounding queries for a smarter, more targeted content strategy.

Understanding AI Grounding Queries in Bing Webmaster Tools

If you’ve only associated Bing Webmaster Tools with classic search analytics, the introduction of grounding queries changes the game. Grounding queries are the specific phrases Bing’s AI models use to find and cite pages from your website during real-world retrievals—think Copilot answers, Bing Chat, or rich results. Unlike standard user search queries, which represent what visitors type into Bing’s search bar, grounding queries give you a behind-the-scenes look at how AI surfaces your content to answer fresh, rapidly changing questions.

What Makes Grounding Queries Different?

Standard search analytics tell you how users find your site—keywords, rankings, and click-through rates. Grounding queries, on the other hand, spotlight what Bing’s AI is doing with your content once it’s indexed. Instead of waiting for someone to search “best electric bikes 2026,” Bing’s AI may pull your in-depth review as evidence in a Copilot session for “affordable electric commuting options.” The phrases that triggered this citation—the grounding queries—are often more nuanced and reflective of AI’s language models, not just direct keywords.

Why This Matters for Webmasters

• Insight Into AI Behavior: Grounding queries reveal the actual prompts or questions AI is attempting to answer when it pulls and credits your website. This is new territory—most analytics tools stop at basic search click data.

• Opportunity to Optimize for AI Citations: By understanding which phrases AI consistently associates with your content, you can refine sections for depth and clarity, helping ensure your pages become a go-to source for Bing and Copilot answers.

• A New Approach to Content Gap Analysis: Traditional SEO looks for missed user queries. Grounding query data, however, can highlight areas where AI’s looking but skipping your site—unlocking new angles and topics to target.

The result? You’re not just tracking people searching; you’re gaining insight into how advanced AI technologies value your site as a reference point on the modern web. This distinction lays the foundation for smarter SEO and content planning in 2026 and beyond.

Inside the AI Performance Dashboard: What’s New and What Remains

The February 2024 update to Bing Webmaster Tools’ AI Performance dashboard introduced sweeping changes for site owners looking to understand and act on AI-driven exposure. This upgrade is more than a cosmetic refresh—it fundamentally shifts how webmasters can measure the impact of AI on their site’s visibility.

What’s New in the AI Performance Dashboard

1. Grounding Queries Mapped to URLs

The most significant addition is the ability to see grounding queries—those AI-generated phrases—directly mapped to specific site URLs. This mapping isn’t just superficial; you can now identify which parts of your site are cited as authoritative sources for various AI answers or Copilot results. For each URL, the dashboard details:

• Grounding queries that triggered citations

• Volume and frequency of AI-driven references

• Breakdown by Bing versus Copilot exposure

2. Enhanced Data Visualizations

Improvements in data presentation bring grounding queries side-by-side with more traditional performance metrics. Standard tables are now supplemented with:

• Heatmaps showing peak periods for AI citations

• Filters for device, country, or source—so you see not just what’s performing, but where and how

3. Exportable Insights

All AI citation data, including grounding queries, is now exportable. You can download raw data for deeper offline analysis, making it easier to connect Bing’s insights with your own analytics stack.

What Remains Consistent

Long-time users of Bing Webmaster Tools will find familiar elements alongside the new AI-centric features:

• Traditional search metrics: Impressions, clicks, and ranking positions from organic Bing searches remain intact and easily accessible.

• URL inspection tools: The ability to check indexing status, crawl issues, and mobile usability hasn’t changed.

• User search analytics: You can still view standard user query performance outside the scope of AI interactions.

The AI Performance dashboard now positions itself as both an advanced AI insights tool and a reliable hub for classic webmaster analytics. If you’re serious about measuring your site’s role as an AI authority, the new features demand your attention—without sacrificing any of the tools you already rely upon.

Using Grounding Query Insights to Refine Your Content Strategy

Once grounding query data is at your fingertips, it shifts how you approach site updates and content creation. Instead of guessing what AI “wants,” you’re handed the exact input phrases that drive citations—offering a rare view straight into the way Bing and Copilot interpret your site’s expertise.

Spotting Opportunities: Underperforming vs AI-Optimized Pages

1. Identify Underperforming Pages

• Start by sorting your URLs by lowest citation counts for grounding queries.

• Look for strong-performing articles in organic search that are rarely (or never) cited by AI. This gap flags content that may be authoritative for users but isn’t considered by Bing’s AI during answer generation.

2. Review Top-Cited Content

• Study which pages and topics are most frequently named in grounding queries.

• Note the specific phrases that trigger these AI citations—are they question-based, highly specific, or reflective of evolving terminology?

Best Practices: Turning Insights into Action

1. Optimize Content for AI-Friendly Citations

• Answer Tight, Relevant Queries: Align headings and subheadings to the phrasing of top grounding queries. If AI pulls your article for “2026 tax updates for small businesses,” address that phrase in a dedicated section.

• Clarify Complex Topics: Use concise, well-structured explanations, minimizing ambiguity. AI models favor straightforward, context-rich passages over fluffy or generic language.

• Update Fact-Based Sections Promptly: AI often leans into the most current, clearly sourced information when selecting citations. Refresh date-sensitive details regularly to remain in rotation.

2. Prioritize Page Revamps by Citation Potential

• Use query frequency to prioritize updates—pages cited most often can benefit from extra refinement to lock in their position as “reference” material.

• For pages only partially matched by grounding queries, strengthen the existing content with additional explanations that bridge possible gaps.

AI Insights: The New Cornerstone of Smart SEO

Traditional keyword research remains important, but grounding query analytics add a powerful new dimension. By combining these insights with proven SEO principles, you’ll build a site that isn’t just ranked by search engines—it's recognized as an AI go-to for trusted, on-topic answers. Think of each top-cited query as a direct invitation to shape your content where AI and users both win.

How Bing’s AI Reporting Stacks Up Against Google Search Console

With both Bing and Google investing heavily in AI-powered search, it’s smart to compare how their webmaster platforms equip site owners with actionable intel. Each tool brings distinct strengths and reporting styles, which can shape your SEO strategy based on your audience and goals.

Feature Comparison: Bing AI Performance Dashboard vs. Google Search Console

Bing AI Performance Dashboard

• Grounding Query Analytics: Offers clear data on the specific AI phrases triggering citations of your site in Bing and Copilot.

• URL-Level Mapping: Shows which pages are referenced, and by what queries, giving deep visibility into AI citation behavior.

• Visualizations & Filters: Advanced filtering by time, device, and source alongside powerful visual tools for data exploration.

• Data Export: Facilitates seamless offline analysis of both traditional and AI-centric metrics.

Google Search Console: Current & Upcoming Features

• Traditional Search Analytics: Delivers robust insights into user-driven keywords, impressions, and clicks—still the backbone for most webmasters.

• AI Reporting: While Google has teased incoming enhancements tied to Search Generative Experience (SGE) and AI-powered results, as of now, these features are less granular. Publicly, there’s no equivalent to grounding query-level transparency for AI citations.

• Index Coverage & Enhancements: GSC remains the industry standard for monitoring page indexing, Core Web Vitals, and structured data.

Strengths, Gaps, and Who Benefits Most

• Strengths of Bing: If your site is regularly cited by Bing’s AI models (including Copilot and Bing Chat), the depth of grounding query insights hands you a real advantage. It’s a powerful fit for publishers, e-commerce, and reference-driven sites optimizing for AI traffic and authority.

• Strengths of Google: Still the must-have dashboard for sites whose majority traffic and ranking priorities hinge on Google’s ecosystem. Its broad suite of diagnostic and technical tools is unmatched for overall site health.

• Current Gaps: Google’s AI reporting is less transparent for now. Bing’s detail around grounding queries gives more agency to those targeting AI visibility specifically. Conversely, Bing trails Google on technical SEO and structured data diagnostics.

Choose Based on Your Needs

Webmasters don’t have to choose one or the other—using both platforms together offers a robust, well-rounded SEO toolkit. If staying ahead in AI-driven search interaction is priority, Bing’s updated tools offer a leading edge in 2026. For monitoring broader site health, technical issues, and Google search presence, Search Console remains indispensable.

By understanding these differences, you can prioritize efforts where they’ll matter most—whether that means optimizing for AI citation, better technical health, or both.