Bing AI Dashboard Now Shows Which Queries Link to Your Pages (Simple Guide)

Microsoft has introduced a new feature inside Bing Webmaster Tools that makes it easier for website owners to understand how their content is used in AI-generated answers.

This update is part of the AI Performance dashboard, and it helps connect something called grounding queries with the actual pages on your website that get cited (mentioned) in AI responses.

Let’s break everything down in very simple English so anyone can understand.

What Is This New Feature?

Earlier, the AI Performance dashboard showed two separate things:

  • Grounding queries

  • Cited pages

But they were not connected.

Now, with this update, you can:

  • Click on a grounding query → see which pages are used for it

  • Click on a page → see which grounding queries are bringing it citations

This means you can now clearly see how AI is picking your content and using it in answers.

First, What Are Grounding Queries?

Grounding queries are not exactly what users type in search.

Instead, they are:

  • Special phrases that AI (like Bing AI or Copilot) creates internally

  • Used to find the best information before giving an answer

For example:

A user might search:

“Best CRM tools for small business”

But the AI might create grounding queries like:

  • “Top CRM tools for startups”

  • “Affordable CRM software features”

  • “CRM benefits for small companies”

These are not visible to users, but they are important because AI uses them to find your content.

What Are Cited Pages?

Cited pages are simply:

Pages from your website that AI includes or refers to in its answers

When your page is cited:

  • It means AI trusts your content

  • Your website gets visibility

  • You may get traffic (though not always trackable yet)

What Was the Problem Before?

Before this update:

  • You could see grounding queries

  • You could see the cited pages

But…

You could NOT see which query led to which page

You could NOT connect the data

So it was confusing.

You didn’t know:

  • Why a page was getting cited

  • Which topic or query was responsible

What Has Changed Now?

Now everything is connected.

1. Query → Page Mapping

You can click on a grounding query and see:

All the pages on your website that are used for that query

This helps you understand:

  • Which content works for which topic

  • Which pages AI prefers

2. Page → Query Mapping

You can also click on a page and see:

All the grounding queries that bring citations to that page

This helps you:

  • Understand why a page is performing well

  • Discover new keyword ideas

Why This Feature Is Important

This update may look small, but it is actually very powerful.

1. Better Content Strategy

Now you can:

  • See what topics your pages are ranking for in AI

  • Improve content based on real data

Example:

If one page is getting citations from multiple queries, you can:

Expand that page

Add more useful information

2. Find Content Gaps

You may notice:

  • Some queries have no strong page

  • Some pages are not getting citations

This helps you:

Create new content

Improve weak pages

3. Understand AI Behavior

AI does not work exactly like traditional search.

With this feature, you can:

  • See how AI thinks

  • Understand how it selects content

This gives you an advantage over competitors.

Important Things That Still Haven’t Changed

Even though this update is useful, some limitations still exist.

1. Still in Public Preview

The dashboard is not fully final yet.

This means:

  • Data may change

  • Features may improve later

2. Data Is Not Complete

The dashboard shows:

Only a sample of citation data

So:

  • You won’t see everything

  • Some citations may be missing

3. No Click Data Yet

One big missing feature is:

No click-through data

This means:

  • You don’t know if users are clicking your cited links

  • You cannot measure traffic directly from AI citations

This is still a major gap.

Also Read: Custom Development vs Off-the-Shelf Software: What Is the Main Difference?

How This Compares to Google

Google also has AI features like:

  • AI Overviews

  • AI Mode

These are shown inside Google Search Console.

But Google:

Does NOT have a separate AI citation report

Does NOT show page-level citation data

So in this area: 

Bing is actually ahead

Where This Data Comes From

The AI Performance dashboard collects data from:

  • Bing AI search

  • Copilot

  • AI summaries

  • Some partner platforms

So it gives a broader view of how AI uses your content.

What Is “GEO” Optimization?

Microsoft has also updated its guidelines and introduced a term called:

GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)

This is similar to SEO, but for AI.

Instead of optimizing for search engines only, you now:

Optimize for AI-generated answers

This includes:

  • Writing clear content

  • Answering questions directly

  • Structuring information properly

How You Can Use This Feature

Here are some simple ways to use it:

1. Improve Top Pages

Find pages with high citations and:

  • Add more details

  • Update information

  • Make them stronger

2. Create New Content

Look at grounding queries and:

  • Find missing topics

  • Write new blog posts

3. Optimize for AI

Focus on:

  • Simple language

  • Clear answers

  • Useful information

AI prefers content that is:

  • Easy to understand

  • Well-structured

  • Helpful

Simple Example

Let’s say you run a website about software.

You see:

  • Query: “best HR software for small business”

  • Page cited: your HR blog

Now you can:

Improve that blog

Add comparisons

Add FAQs

This increases your chances of more citations.

Final Thoughts

This new feature in Bing Webmaster Tools is a big step forward.

It helps you:

  • Connect queries with pages

  • Understand AI behavior

  • Improve your content strategy

Even though some data is still missing, this tool gives valuable insights that were not available before.

As AI search keeps growing, tools like this will become very important.

If you want your website to perform well in AI results, you should:

  • Study grounding queries

  • Improve your content

  • Focus on user-friendly information

This is the future of SEO, or as Microsoft calls it, GEO.