What are AI-generated citations and how do they differ from traditional backlinks?

AI-generated citations are references within AI-generated answers, while traditional backlinks are hyperlinks from one website to another (Wellows, Yoast, Writesonic). AI citations appear in AI search results or summaries, often as source cards or links, and are becoming critical for brand exposure (Yoast). Backlinks, on the other hand, are embedded in web content and are a core SEO signal (Wellows).

References

1. How Are LLM Citations Different from Backlinks? - Wellows
2. Everything you need to know about AI citations vs backlinks - Yoast
3. AI Citations vs Backlinks: What's The Difference? - Writesonic
4. AI Search Engine Optimization: How to Rank in AI Search Results ...
5. Citation Management Tools for Ai Work | Restackio
6. How to get cited by AI: SEO insights from 8,000 AI citations
7. Research Guides: Artificial Intelligence for Research and Scholarship: AI and Citation
8. Top 10 AI Tools for Citations in 2025