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ChatGPT search now uses site: operator at scale, impacting Reddit results

By PulseAugur Editorial · [2 sources] ·

ChatGPT has begun utilizing the site: operator at scale, a feature that allows users to restrict search results to specific websites. This change, observed by Promptwatch, a company specializing in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), saw the use of the site: operator in ChatGPT search queries jump from under 0.5% to over 16% in early August. This coincides with OpenAI's announcement of GPT-5.6 improvements for Plus and Pro users, aimed at enhancing factual accuracy and focus. Promptwatch also noted a significant reduction in Reddit's appearance in ChatGPT search results, though direct confirmation of system prompt changes remains elusive. AI

IMPACT This change in ChatGPT's search functionality could influence how websites optimize their content for AI-driven search and may alter user reliance on specific sources like Reddit.

RANK_REASON This item discusses a change in the functionality of an existing product (ChatGPT search) and its impact on how external sites are indexed, rather than a new product release or core research.

Read on Mastodon — mastodon.social →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 2 sources. How we write summaries →

ChatGPT search now uses site: operator at scale, impacting Reddit results

How we ranked this

Signal score
0 / 100
Composite score across the factors below. Higher = stronger signal that this story matters right now.
Newsworthiness bucket
Tool
This item discusses a change in the functionality of an existing product (ChatGPT search) and its impact on how external sites are indexed, rather than a new product release or core research.
Source corroboration
2 independent sources
Multiple independent publishers reporting the same story raises confidence that it's real and newsworthy.
Topics
product, infra
Editorial topic classification. Feeds into how the story surfaces on /topic/<slug> hub pages and into the per-entity coverage mix.
AI-industry relevance
High
Clearly on-topic for AI-industry coverage.
Story freshness
45 days old
Aged out of breaking-news scoring windows; ranking reflects the durable signal from the full source set.

Full methodology in our editorial standards.

COVERAGE [2]

  1. Simon Willison TIER_1 English(EN) ·

    ChatGPT search now uses the site:operator at scale

    <p><strong><a href="https://promptwatch.com/data/chatgpt-site-operator-fanouts">ChatGPT search now uses the site:operator at scale</a></strong></p> Promptwatch is part of the emerging "GEO" space, for Generative Engine Optimization - the chatbot version of SEO, where companies of…

  2. Mastodon — mastodon.social TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    ChatGPT search now uses the site:operator at scale https://simonwillison.net/2026/Aug/20/chatgpt-search-now-uses-the-siteoperator-at-scale/ # AI # Search # Tech

    ChatGPT search now uses the site:operator at scale https://simonwillison.net/2026/Aug/20/chatgpt-search-now-uses-the-siteoperator-at-scale/ # AI # Search # Tech

    LINKS simonwillison.net/…/chatgpt-search-now-us…

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