Noticing a Decline in ChatGPT Citation Visibility Since September 11
In recent weeks, users of ChatGPT have observed a significant reduction in the number of source citations provided during interactions. Prior to September 11, the AI model—across both free and paid versions—generally offered multiple references to reputable sources such as Wikipedia, Reddit, TechRadar, and others to substantiate its responses.
However, since September 11, there has been a noticeable decline—reported to be as much as 90%—in the frequency with which ChatGPT displays these citations, particularly in the free version. This shift has been highlighted by community members, including notable AI researcher Niklas Buschner, who pointed out the stark difference in citation presentation.
It appears that free account users are now predominantly receiving responses without accompanying sources, whereas paid subscribers continue to experience a similar level of source integration as before. This discrepancy raises questions about recent policy changes or technical adjustments affecting how citations are generated and displayed based on user subscription tiers.
Understanding these changes is crucial for users who rely on ChatGPT for research, fact-checking, or information validation. As the landscape of AI-powered language models continues to evolve, monitoring such shifts can help users adapt their strategies for obtaining credible and transparent information from these tools.
We will continue to observe these developments and keep the community informed about updates related to ChatGPT’s citation mechanisms and overall feature accessibility.