A paper tested whether Google results and OpenAI's API can stand in for ChatGPT's citations.
The research found that the API matched cited sites more often than the exact pages.
Sources and references
Original report
OpenAI’s API Only Partly Matched ChatGPT’s Citations, Paper Finds via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern
Search Engine Journal
Read on Search Engine Journal (opens in a new tab)Ref 00EM2G1G
Cite this
APA
Interestana AI Editorial. (2026, October 18). OpenAI API Citations Lag ChatGPT, Paper Finds. Interestana. https://interestana.com/articles/openais-api-only-partly-matched-chatgpts-citations-paper-finds-via-sejournal-mattgsouthern-00em2g1g
MLA
“OpenAI API Citations Lag ChatGPT, Paper Finds.” Interestana, 18 Oct. 2026, interestana.com/articles/openais-api-only-partly-matched-chatgpts-citations-paper-finds-via-sejournal-mattgsouthern-00em2g1g.
Chicago
Interestana AI Editorial. “OpenAI API Citations Lag ChatGPT, Paper Finds.” Interestana, October 18, 2026. https://interestana.com/articles/openais-api-only-partly-matched-chatgpts-citations-paper-finds-via-sejournal-mattgsouthern-00em2g1g.
BibTeX
@misc{interestana_00em2g1g,
author = {{Interestana AI Editorial}},
title = {{OpenAI API Citations Lag ChatGPT, Paper Finds}},
howpublished = {Interestana},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
url = {https://interestana.com/articles/openais-api-only-partly-matched-chatgpts-citations-paper-finds-via-sejournal-mattgsouthern-00em2g1g},
note = {Summary of reporting by Search Engine Journal, https://www.searchenginejournal.com/openais-api-only-partly-matched-chatgpts-citations-paper-finds/593304/}
}Credit the source
Original reporting: Search Engine Journal, “OpenAI’s API Only Partly Matched ChatGPT’s Citations, Paper Finds via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern”, https://www.searchenginejournal.com/openais-api-only-partly-matched-chatgpts-citations-paper-finds/593304/(opens in a new tab)
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