Google Confirms: No LLMS.txt Needed for AI Overviews

Google’s Gary Illyes says LLMS.txt is not used for ranking in AI Overviews. Instead, follow standard SEO practices to appear in AI results.

Google Says LLMS.txt Doesn’t Matter for AI Rankings — Stick to Normal SEO, Says Gary Illyes

In a clear message to content creators and SEO professionals, Google has confirmed that normal SEO practices are all you need to appear in AI Overviews — its AI-generated search summaries.

At a recent Google Search Central Deep Dive event held in the Asia-Pacific region, Google’s Gary Illyes addressed a growing question in the SEO community: “Do we need LLMS.txt to rank in AI Overviews?” His answer was a firm no.

What Did Gary Illyes Say?

According to Kenichi Suzuki, an attendee who posted the update on LinkedIn, Illyes clarified two big points:

  1. AI Overviews rely on standard SEO.
  2. Google doesn’t crawl or use LLMS.txt files.

Suzuki quoted Illyes saying:

“To get your content to appear in AI Overview, simply use normal SEO practices. You don’t need GEO, LLMO, or anything else.”

This means that if your content is already being indexed and ranked in Google Search, it's also eligible for AI Overviews — no extra steps, formats, or new files required.


What Is LLMS.txt?

LLMS.txt is a new type of file some websites have started using to control how AI models access their content, much like robots.txt works for search engines. It's part of a broader conversation about data usage by large language models (LLMs).

But Google made it clear:

It doesn't recognize or use LLMS.txt — and has no plans to.


Other AI Crawlers Might Use LLMS.txt

While Google isn’t using LLMS.txt, other AI players seem to be paying attention.

Ray Martinez, another SEO expert, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that OpenAI has been actively crawling LLMS.txt files. He even shared log file screenshots showing that OpenAI is checking these files every 15 minutes.

That indicates that while Google ignores LLMS.txt, other AI companies might actually respect it — for now.

Still, even John Mueller of Google had previously stated that no major AI systems were using LLMS.txt, though he said that a few weeks ago — and in the AI space, things change quickly.


Why It Matters

This announcement helps clear up the confusion around LLMS.txt and its role in AI search results.

As Lily Ray, another well-known SEO expert, put it:

“AI search is booming, but SEO is still not dead.”

In short:

  • If you want to appear in Google's AI Overviews, do good SEO.
  • Forget about LLMS.txt — at least when it comes to Google.

Summary: What You Should Do

Focus on standard SEO best practices:

  • Optimize titles, meta descriptions, content quality, internal linking, and mobile performance.

Don’t worry about LLMS.txt for Google:

  • It’s not being read or used by Googlebot.

🧠 Stay updated:

  • The AI world is fast-moving. What’s true today might change tomorrow — but for now, SEO is still your best friend.

Final Thoughts

Google’s stance simplifies things: AI Overviews aren't powered by new rules — they're powered by good content. If you’re already doing the right things for traditional Google Search, you’re doing the right things for AI Overviews too.

For now, skip the LLMS.txt hype, and focus on great SEO.


FAQ

Q1: What is LLMS.txt?

A new file format designed to tell AI models how to treat website content — similar to robots.txt.

Q2: Does Google use LLMS.txt to decide AI Overview rankings?

No. Google confirmed it does not crawl or use LLMS.txt files.

Q3: What should I do to appear in AI Overviews?

Use regular SEO techniques — optimize your content for Google Search as you normally would.

Q4: Do other AI systems use LLMS.txt?

Yes, some like OpenAI seem to be crawling LLMS.txt files according to recent reports.

Q5: Is AI replacing SEO?

No. SEO is still critical — even in the AI era.


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