Many popular SEO tools, plugins, and content management platforms promote LLMs. txt as a way to enhance AI search visibility, giving the impression it’s the new frontier in SEO. However, LLMs. txt remains just a proposal without adoption by any AI platform. This raises the question: why are so many companies endorsing a standard that no AI system currently uses?A recent Reddit discussion sheds light on this confusion. ### Third-Party SEO Tools and LLMs. txt Google’s John Mueller addressed concerns in a Reddit thread where a user wondered why SEMrush flagged the /llm. txt file as a 404 error and implied it might be necessary. The user asked: > “Why is SEMRush showing that the /llm. txt is a 404?I know I don’t have one, and I’ve heard it’s useless and not needed. Is that true?If I need it, how do I build it?” The confusion came from SEMrush’s audit documentation, which warns: > “If your site lacks a clear llms. txt file it risks being misrepresented by AI systems. This check identifies issues that may limit your exposure in AI results. ” Despite this warning, there is no actual risk because no AI platform currently uses LLMs. txt. This discrepancy likely prompted the user’s question about building the file. ### LLMs. txt Is Unnecessary John Mueller confirmed that LLMs. txt is unnecessary, emphasizing the importance of skepticism in SEO: > “Good catch!Especially in SEO, it’s important to catch misleading & bad information early, before investing time into something unnecessary. Question everything. ” ### Why AI Platforms May Reject LLMs. txt No formal statements explain AI platforms’ rejection of LLMs. txt, but there are valid reasons for avoiding it.

The primary issue is trustworthiness. Unlike on-page content visible to both users and AI, separate files like LLMs. txt or associated markdown files can be manipulated. SEO practitioners might add content in these files that doesn't appear in the regular HTML to game AI rankings. Research from 2024 titled “Adversarial Search Engine Optimization for Large Language Models” illustrates how attackers can manipulate LLMs through “Preference Manipulation Attacks” — stealthy methods that cause AI search engines like Bing and Perplexity, and APIs such as GPT-4 and Claude, to favor certain content. For example, such attacks can make a targeted camera recommendation 2. 5 times more likely. This potential for abuse discourages AI services from trusting or adopting LLMs. txt files, as they could become spam vectors. Thus, relying on on-page HTML content is safer and more reliable. ### SEO Plugins’ Stance on LLMs. txt - **Squirrly SEO** introduced LLMs. txt support only because users requested it but clearly states it doesn’t enhance AI search visibility. They note: > “LLMs. txt will not help you magically appear in AI search. There is currently zero proof that it helps with being promoted by AI search engines. ” - **Rank Math**, however, suggests AI chatbots utilize curated content from LLMs. txt and markdown files, claiming that this increases the chance of accurate citation and discovery. While their explanation of LLMs. txt’s function is mostly accurate, they overstate its usefulness since AI chatbots currently do not use curated files or structured data, relying instead solely on regular HTML content. - **Yoast SEO** takes a moderate stance, outlining the purpose of LLMs. txt but cautiously noting it “can” or “could” be useful without promising concrete benefits. This balanced approach aligns with the general consensus that LLMs. txt is optional and presently ineffective. ### The LLMs. txt Misinformation Loop The debate around LLMs. txt has morphed into a self-perpetuating cycle: anxiety over AI visibility drives business owners and SEOs to seek actionable steps, perceiving LLMs. txt as a viable solution. SEO tool providers respond to this demand by integrating LLMs. txt features, inadvertently reinforcing the belief that it is essential despite lack of AI use. As a result, many adopt LLMs. txt prematurely, although it remains a proposed standard unsupported by any AI platforms. --- **In summary**, while LLMs. txt is widely discussed and sometimes implemented due to user demand and SEO tool suggestions, it currently holds no real influence over AI search rankings. Its lack of adoption stems from concerns about trustworthiness and susceptibility to manipulation, meaning on-page content remains the most reliable method of SEO for AI systems. Users should question the necessity of LLMs. txt and remain cautious of misinformation surrounding it.