Bing AI Dashboard Tracks Query Sources

Bing Webmaster Tools has rolled out a significant update to its AI Performance dashboard, introducing a new feature that links grounding queries directly to the pages cited by Bing’s AI systems. This enhancement allows website owners to gain clearer insight into how their content is being referenced in AI-generated responses, providing a practical tool for optimisation and content strategy.

The update enables users to select a grounding query and immediately see which pages on their site are cited in relation to that query. Conversely, users can click on a page to discover which grounding queries are driving its citations. This bidirectional view provides a much clearer picture of the interaction between AI-generated queries and the content on your site.

According to Microsoft, the feature was developed in response to user feedback. Many website owners had requested a way to connect grounding queries to specific pages since the AI Performance dashboard first launched in February. Previously, the dashboard displayed grounding queries and cited pages as separate lists, without linking them directly. While this provided some insight into which queries AI used and which URLs were cited, it did not allow users to see the relationship between the two.

The new mapping feature changes this, allowing a single grounding query to be linked to multiple pages, and a single page to appear under multiple queries. This is an important distinction because grounding queries differ from standard user searches. They are generated internally by Bing’s retrieval system when constructing an AI answer. Understanding which of these queries connect to which pages helps site owners identify opportunities for content updates and improvements, ensuring that their material is effectively surfaced in AI responses.

Despite this new functionality, some elements of the AI Performance dashboard remain unchanged. The dashboard is still in public preview, meaning it is not yet a finalised product. It continues to cover AI-powered features such as Copilot, AI-generated summaries in Bing, and selected partner integrations. The data still represents a sample of citation activity rather than a complete log, and the dashboard does not yet include click-through data to show whether citations are driving traffic to your site.

This limitation was noted when the dashboard first launched and continues to be a gap for users seeking deeper insights into user behaviour. For comparison, Google Search Console offers AI-related reporting through its standard Performance reports, including AI Overviews and AI Mode. However, Google has not introduced a dedicated report for AI citations or page-level citation tracking, giving Bing an early advantage in providing visibility into AI-driven content references.

Microsoft emphasised that this is the first new capability to be highlighted since the dashboard entered public preview. The company has also referenced the dashboard in its updated Bing Webmaster Guidelines, where “GEO” was added as a recognised optimisation category. This suggests that Microsoft is not only improving the dashboard’s functionality but also integrating its AI insights into broader SEO guidance for webmasters.

For website owners, the grounding query-to-page mapping feature provides actionable insights. Being able to see which queries are tied to which pages allows content creators to better understand how AI is interacting with their site. This can help inform content updates, prioritise optimisation efforts, and identify pages that are underperforming in AI citations. It also gives a clearer picture of which areas of the site may benefit from enhanced content or additional focus to improve visibility in AI-driven search results.

The feature is now available for all verified sites in Bing Webmaster Tools, marking a key step forward in helping webmasters understand and respond to AI-driven search behaviour. While the dashboard remains in preview, this update demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to evolving its tools based on user feedback, and provides site owners with a more detailed and actionable view of AI interactions with their content.

In summary, the addition of grounding query-to-page mapping makes Bing’s AI Performance dashboard more useful and insightful than ever before. By linking AI-generated queries to the pages they cite, webmasters can better monitor how their content is being referenced, make informed optimisation decisions, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving AI-driven search environment. This enhancement represents a clear move towards greater transparency in AI content citation and is likely to become an essential tool for SEO and content strategy in 2026 and beyond.