OAI-SearchBot
In one line
OAI-SearchBot is OpenAI's separate crawler for ChatGPT Search indexing — distinct from GPTBot, so you can control training and search-indexing access independently.
Going deeper
OAI-SearchBot is the user agent OpenAI uses specifically for indexing content into ChatGPT Search. The User-Agent string is different from GPTBot, and robots.txt rules can target it independently.
That split matters because the decisions are different. 'Opt out of training but stay eligible for ChatGPT Search citations' is a real configuration — block GPTBot, allow OAI-SearchBot.
Heads up — OpenAI runs a fleet of bots (GPTBot, OAI-SearchBot, ChatGPT-User and others). Build policy from the current OpenAI docs rather than around a single name, and apply it consistently across the family.
Sources
Related terms
GPTBot
GPTBot is OpenAI's official web crawler used for ChatGPT training and search indexing — controllable via robots.txt.
GEO·AEOChatGPT Search
ChatGPT Search is the feature that lets ChatGPT combine its trained knowledge with live web results, citing sources alongside the answer.
GEO·AEOGoogle-Extended
Google-Extended is the separate user agent Google uses for training Gemini and Vertex AI, letting site owners control AI training access independently from regular search indexing.
GEO·AEOllms.txt
llms.txt is a proposed text file placed at the site root that tells large language models where the most important content lives — think 'sitemap, but written for LLMs'.
GEO·AEOGEO
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing content and data so that a brand gets cited and recommended inside generative AI search answers like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews.