A new conversation is emerging about how websites should interact with AI crawlers. By Christopher Minn
As large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, and others continue to reshape how content is accessed, summarised, and presented online, website owners are facing a new question: Should you allow AI crawlers to index your content?
Just like robots.txt helped define how search engines like Google interact with your website, a new emerging standard llms.txt is being proposed to give website owners more control over how AI systems use their content.
Think of llms.txt as a way to say: “Hey AI bots, here’s what you can and can’t do with my content.”
Placed at the root of your website (like yoursite.com/llms.txt), this file would contain permissions or restrictions for specific AI crawlers, allowing you to permit or block LLMs from using your content to train or generate responses.
The concept builds on the familiar robots.txt standard that has guided web crawlers for decades, but addresses the unique challenges posed by AI systems that don’t just index content; they learn from it and potentially reproduce it.
Content Ownership: Your hard-earned content could be scraped and used in AI outputs without attribution or permission. Unlike search engines that drive traffic back to your site, AI models might provide answers directly, potentially reducing visits to your original content.
Data Control: Not all AI models are created equal. You may want to allow reputable academic or nonprofit models while blocking commercial use, or vice versa. An llms.txt file could provide this granular control.
SEO & Visibility: While blocking AI crawlers could limit your content’s reach in AI-powered search and chat interfaces, it might protect long-term value and intellectual property rights.
Future-Proofing: As AI becomes more prevalent in how people discover and consume information, having clear policies about AI access becomes increasingly important for content creators and businesses.
“AI is not a strategy, but a means to rethink your strategy.” – Jeroen De Flander
Currently, there’s no universally adopted llms.txt standard, though various proposals and discussions are happening across tech communities. Some AI companies respect existing robots.txt directives, while others operate under fair use principles or their own crawling policies.
Major AI companies have different approaches:
While we wait for industry standards to emerge, here are practical steps you can take:
1. Stay Informed: Keep up with emerging standards and tools in the AI and web development communities. Join discussions on platforms like GitHub, tech forums, and industry publications.
2. Define Your Policy: Decide whether you want to allow LLMs access to your content. Consider factors like:
3. Implement Available Tools. Work with your developer or SEO team to:
4. Monitor and Adapt Regularly check how AI systems are referencing or potentially reproducing your content. Tools for detecting AI-generated content that might include your work are becoming more sophisticated.
The conversation around llms.txt reflects a broader shift in how we think about content ownership and usage in the AI era. Just as we adapted to search engine robots.txt and learned to optimise for discoverability, we may soon need to navigate a new landscape where AI systems are major content consumers.
This isn’t just a technical issue it’s about the future relationship between content creators, AI systems, and the users who benefit from both. The decisions we make today about AI access to web content will likely shape the internet ecosystem for years to come.
A small text file might seem insignificant, but it llms.txt, could play a significant role in how we shape the AI-powered internet of tomorrow. Whether you’re a blogger, business owner, or content creator, now is the time to start thinking about your AI strategy.
The question isn’t just “Does your website have an LLMs.txt?”- it’s “What do you want your relationship with AI to look like?”
Ready to take AI action? Email chris@thedigitalink.co to see how Digital Ink & The Smart Elephant can craft your AI-driven marketing, sales, and tailored strategies and software solutions.
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