Google’s John Mueller Dashes Hopes for llms.txt as an AI Game-Changer

In a recent update, John Mueller, the Senior Search Analyst at Google, has put a damper on the excitement surrounding a new SEO trend for 2026. Many website owners have been jumping on the bandwagon by adding a file named llms.txt to their sites, hoping that it would help AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini favor their pages over others.

During a discussion, Mueller clarified that this small text file is unlikely to influence AI bots in recommending websites. It seems there’s been a misconception that including llms.txt could somehow provide an edge in the competitive online landscape, but that’s not the case.

This clarification serves as a reminder for webmasters and digital marketers that not all trending tactics will yield the desired results. As the SEO landscape continues to evolve, it’s crucial to rely on proven strategies rather than hopping on every new trend that surfaces.

So, for those of you considering adding the llms.txt file to your site in hopes of boosting your visibility through AI recommendations, it might be time to rethink that strategy. Stay ahead by focusing on what really matters in SEO!