Grounding
Grounding is the process of connecting an AI response to information supplied to the model or retrieved from external sources. That information can include web results, documents or structured records. Grounding gives an answer a reference to work from, but the model can still misread a source or produce an unsupported statement.
Why it matters for a business
A grounded answer can use current service details rather than relying only on learned patterns. Accuracy still depends on what was retrieved and how it was used. An outdated directory entry can undermine an accurate business website.
Example and evidence
AIGROW’s AI Source Map records sites read or cited during published web-enabled tests. It distinguishes those events because retrieving a page does not mean the assistant displayed a link to it, or used every fact it contained.
What to do next
Keep your own pages and important public listings consistent. Check whether a cited page actually supports the answer’s claim. When an answer is wrong, identify the underlying source before assuming that adding another page will fix it.
Common question
Related terms
Sources and method
Sources checked on 2026-10-09. Examples marked illustrative are not measured business results.
Check your own business in AI answers
Run the free scan to see which assistants name your business and which facts need attention. A scan is a sample, not a promise of future recommendations.