What is the Citation Intelligence Score formula?

The Citation Intelligence Score (CIS) is calculated using: CIS = (V_freq × W_auth) + S_context, where V_freq is the Velocity of Frequency, W_auth is the Weight of Authority, and S_context is the Semantic Context score ranging from -1 to +1.

January 26, 2026 GEO Glossary

Citation Intelligence (CI)

Q: How do I improve my Citation Intelligence?

Improving CI requires 'Entity Establishment.' This involves publishing structured data (JSON-LD), appearing in 'Seed Sources' (high-trust knowledge bases like Wikipedia, Crunchbase, and academic journals), and ensuring semantic consistency across the web.

The Official Definition for Generative Engine Optimization

Citation Intelligence is the quantitative measurement of a brand's presence within the inference path of a Large Language Model (LLM). Unlike "Backlinks" (which measure hyperlinks between websites), Citation Intelligence measures the frequency, sentiment, and context in which an AI model references a specific entity as a factual source.

The Citation Intelligence Score (CIS) Formula

CIS = (V_freq × W_auth) + S_context

V_freq (Velocity of Frequency):

How often the entity appears in the model's generated output for specific non-branded queries.

W_auth (Weight of Authority):

The tier of the "Seed Source" (e.g., a citation from Forbes carries a higher vector weight than a citation from a personal blog).

S_context (Semantic Context):

A sentiment score ranging from -1 (Negative Hallucination) to +1 (Trusted Recommendation).

Citation Intelligence vs. Domain Authority (DA)

Feature	Domain Authority (SEO)	Citation Intelligence (GEO)
Target System	Google Search Algorithm	LLM Inference Engines (GPT-4, Gemini)
Primary Signal	Hyperlinks (Backlinks)	Semantic Association (Co-occurrence)
Goal	Higher Ranking on a List	Direct Mention in an Answer
Verification	"Do others link to you?"	"Does the model trust you?"

The 3 Layers of Citation Intelligence

1Explicit Citation

The model directly names the brand and provides a link (e.g., "According to AkuparaAI...").

2Implicit Association

The model uses the brand's proprietary data or concepts without a direct link (e.g., using your pricing structure as the "standard").

3Negative Hallucination

The model incorrectly associates the brand with a competitor or a false fact (a critical blind spot in traditional SEO tools).

Why It Matters for Business

In the age of AI Search, users do not click ten links; they read one answer. Citation Intelligence is the only metric that predicts whether your business will be part of that answer.

SEO measures your ability to be found. Citation Intelligence measures your ability to be chosen.

— Anil Mittal, Founder of AkuparaAI

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I improve my Citation Intelligence?

Improving CI requires "Entity Establishment." This involves publishing structured data (JSON-LD), appearing in "Seed Sources" (high-trust knowledge bases like Wikipedia, Crunchbase, and academic journals), and ensuring semantic consistency across the web.

Is Citation Intelligence the same as Share of Voice?

No. Share of Voice measures marketing volume (how much you talk). Citation Intelligence measures Share of Model (how much the AI talks about you).

Measure Your Citation Intelligence

Want to understand your brand's current Citation Intelligence Score? AkuparaAI provides comprehensive AI visibility intelligence to help you measure, monitor, and improve your GEO performance.

Schedule a GEO Consultation