AI Engines Choose YouTube 200x More Than Any Other Video Platform—Your Brand Could Be Missing Out

Data Collected: Monitored YouTube citation patterns across AI search engines from May 2024-September 2025 using BrightEdge AI Catalyst to analyze:

• Citation rates across platforms
• Video platform competition
• Query type patterns
• Week-over-week changes

Key Finding: YouTube averages 20% citation share across AI platforms—making it the most cited video platform with 200x more citations than any other video platform, despite no obligation from non-Google engines to favor it.

The Big Numbers

• 20% average YouTube citation share across platforms
• 200x advantage over nearest video competitor (Vimeo at 0.1%)
• 29.5% of Google AI Overviews cite YouTube (#1 domain)
• 100% week-over-week growth for ChatGPT (though from small base)
• -32.8% recent decline in AI Overviews (but still dominant at #1)

The Platform Breakdown

Google AI Overviews

• 29.5% YouTube citation share
• #1 cited domain (ahead of Mayo Clinic at 12.5%)
• -32.8% week-over-week change
• Average rank position: 6.3

Google AI Mode

• 16.6% YouTube citation share
• #1 cited domain
• -3.2% week-over-week change
• Average rank position: 9.7

Perplexity

• 9.7% YouTube citation share
• #5 cited domain
• +4.8% week-over-week growth
• Average rank position: 9.7

ChatGPT

• 0.2% YouTube citation share
• Minimal but growing (+100% week-over-week)
• Average rank position: 5.2

The Video Platform Monopoly

YouTube Dominance:

• 20% average citation share
• Present across all AI platforms
• #1 domain in Google AI Overviews
• Growing on independent platforms (Perplexity, ChatGPT)

Competition Non-Existent:

• Vimeo: 0.1% (AI Overviews only)
• TikTok: 0.1% (AI Overviews only)
• Dailymotion: 0%
• Twitch: 0%
• All others: 0%

Query Types That Trigger YouTube Citations

High YouTube Citation Rate:

• Platform-specific tutorials ("TD Ameritrade post-merger")
• Medical education with action components
• Current pricing/deals ("Is Home Depot having a sale?")
• Financial tool demonstrations
• Product reviews and comparisons

Low/Lost YouTube Citations:

• Strategic planning questions
• Career advice and academic selection
• Abstract financial concepts
• Technical architecture decisions
• Pure informational without visual benefit

Takeaways from Data

1. YouTube Has Absolute Video Monopoly With 200x more citations than any competitor, YouTube isn't just the preferred video platform—it's the only one that matters for AI citations. Even non-Google platforms (ChatGPT, Perplexity) choose YouTube almost exclusively.
2. Platform-Agnostic Trust ChatGPT and Perplexity have no obligation to favor Google properties, yet they still choose YouTube for video citations. This validates YouTube's position as the universal video authority for AI.
3. Supplementary Not Primary YouTube typically ranks in positions 3-10 (average 6-10 across platforms), indicating AI engines use video as supporting evidence rather than primary sources. This creates opportunity for brands to complement text authority with video demonstrations.
4. The August 31st Shift A clear inflection point where multiple platforms simultaneously increased YouTube citations—Google AI Mode and Perplexity both jumped from 0% to double digits, suggesting industry-wide recognition of video value.