Count the visits that identify an AI referrer.

The channel definition

Name the channel AI referrals. Use Source, matches regex, with this expression:

^(.*\.)?(chatgpt\.com|chat\.openai\.com|claude\.ai|perplexity\.ai|copilot\.microsoft\.com|copilot\.cloud\.microsoft)$

Coverage on 2 November 2026: chatgpt.com, chat.openai.com, claude.ai, perplexity.ai, copilot.microsoft.com and copilot.cloud.microsoft. This is a conservative list of identifiable referral hosts, not a list of engines we measure. Check your own Source values before applying it.

Add it in GA4

1. Open your property. In Admin, go to Data display, then Channel groups. You need Editor access or higher.
2. Create a copy of your existing group. Add the AI referrals channel with the Source condition above.
3. Place it above Referral so these visits match the specific rule first. Save the group.
4. In Acquisition reports, select the new group as a dimension. Compare sessions and your configured sign-up or lead events over the same dates.

Google's custom channel group instructions, checked 2 November 2026. Do not buy an upgrade for this template.

What the count cannot tell you

Missing referrers stay missing. A copied link, an app opening a browser or a privacy setting may leave a visit as direct traffic. The expression excludes ordinary Google referrals because a hostname alone cannot separate a classic result from an AI feature.

A crawler visit is not a citation, and a citation is not a lead. This channel counts matching session sources, not all people who saw your company in an answer. Keep self-reported attribution separate.

Read it beside Search Console

Check the property's available performance views and its Search generative AI setting. On 2 November 2026, Broadcastwell's property also showed a separate Generative AI features Performance report with impressions. That view did not expose AI-only clicks or queries. Use the views your own property provides and keep each report's scope clear.

Record the date range, branded query definition, home-page clicks and impressions, then compare monthly. These are separate observations, not proof that GEO caused a change. Google's AI features guide, checked 2 November 2026.

Ask people, too

Add an optional “How did you hear about us?” field to your forms. Report its answers separately from referral sessions and sign-ups. State the number of responses, date range and unanswered forms; do not turn a small set into a conversion claim.