A new segmentation feature in Clarity's AI Citations dashboard lets you separate branded from non-branded AI grounding queries, so you know exactly when AI systems cite you versus competitors.
Microsoft just handed you a lens you didn't have before. In its Clarity analytics tool, the company added a branded and non-branded query segmentation feature to the AI Citations dashboard. That means you can now see exactly which AI queries mention your brand and which ones answer the same customer question using your competitor's content instead.
Until now, Clarity showed you aggregate AI citation data. You knew when AI systems pulled from your site to ground a response, but you couldn't separate branded queries ('your company name plus product') from non-branded ones ('what is a customer service tool'). Microsoft's update splits that view. You can now filter your AI Citations dashboard and AI reports to show only branded queries, only non-branded, or both.
In practice, that means you can answer questions like: when customers ask about our specific product, do AI systems cite us? When they ask about the general category we compete in, do we show up at all, or does the AI suggest our rivals?
AI search visibility splits into two buckets. Branded queries are your existing customers asking about you by name, or prospects who already know you exist. Non-branded queries are the bigger opportunity: strangers asking 'how do I do X' without knowing your solution exists. When AI systems answer non-branded queries by citing your competitors instead of you, you lose traffic and revenue.
Branded queries are confirmation of your existing position. Non-branded queries are the untapped market. This segmentation lets you measure the difference and fix it.
Microsoft said the segmentation is available now across the AI Citations dashboard and AI reports. Filter by branded, non-branded, or view both together. Look for high-traffic non-branded queries where you appear weakly or not at all. That's your list of content gaps to fix or pages to strengthen.
The practical move: run this every month if you're competing in a category where AI search matters. Watch branded queries stay strong (they should) and non-branded queries grow to match them. When non-branded citations climb, you're winning more of the 'what is' and 'how do I' questions that bring new customers in.
How WebKing runs this
We run Clarity for clients who need to see beyond traditional search. This branded breakdown tells you whether your AI presence is strong (branded queries cite you) or weak (non-branded queries skip you). It's the difference between being the obvious answer and being invisible.
It separates AI queries that use your company name from queries that ask the same question without mentioning you. For example, 'best CRM software' (non-branded) versus 'HubSpot CRM' (branded) so you see how often AI systems cite you by name versus your competitors.
When AI systems cite your brand in their response, it means your content is trusted enough to answer customer questions directly. Non-branded queries that skip your brand mean AI picked someone else's content instead, even though your answer exists.
You can identify high-value non-branded queries where customers ask questions but AI isn't citing you, then create content or optimize existing pages to become the answer AI systems recommend. It's a direct line to traffic you're losing.
No, the branded and non-branded breakdown is now built into the AI Citations dashboard and AI reports in Clarity. You can filter and segment your existing data immediately without any setup.
Sources
The Lab is original analysis by WebKing. We summarize and interpret developments from the sources above for industrial, commercial, and small business owners. Figures are reported as published by their sources.
More from the desk
Photo: Maksym AndriushchenkoAs AI platforms reshape where customers see your brand, the industry trade group releases a playbook to fix the measurement chaos, here's what it means for your marketing spend.
A new RemoveAllAudienceMembers method lets you clear customer lists in one operation instead of manually removing contacts one by one. Here's how it affects your Google Ads workflow.
Photo: Laura ChouetteThe pizza chain is paying customers to beta test its redesigned ordering platform. Here's what that tells you about winning in digital commerce.
