Introducing Query Fan-Out: See What AI Engines Are Really Searching For

One of the biggest blind spots in AI optimization is simple but critical: what search queries are AI engines actually using to answer your prompts?

Today, Query Fan-Out reveals the answer.

Beyond surface-level prompts

Quadrant has long helped brands track and optimize their presence in AI search results. But tracking original user prompts only tells half the story. When someone asks ChatGPT or Claude a question, these models don't search for that exact query.

Instead, AI engines transform a single user prompt into multiple high-intent search queries behind the scenes. This invisible process—called "query fanout"—determines which content gets retrieved and cited. If your content doesn't match these fanout queries, you're invisible to AI-mediated search, no matter how well you rank for the original prompt.

Query Fan-Out explained

Query Fan-Out makes the invisible visible. For every prompt you're tracking, Quadrant shows you exactly what search queries AI engines generate to research and answer it—the actual, high-intent queries that drive information retrieval and citations.

That means you can finally answer:

• What specific searches is ChatGPT running when users ask about your category?
• Which modifiers and qualifiers do AI engines add to refine user intent?
• Are you optimizing for the queries AI actually uses, or just the ones users type?
• Where are the content gaps between what users ask and what AI searches for?

Why it matters

Query Fan-Out introduces a fundamental shift in how you optimize for AI visibility.

Optimize for what AI actually searches. Stop guessing what AI engines are looking for. See the exact queries they generate and ensure your content answers them directly.

Discover high-intent modifiers. Identify patterns in how AI refines user prompts—adding terms like "best," "comparison," "2026," or industry-specific qualifiers. Build content that matches these refined searches.

Close visibility gaps systematically. When you rank well for user prompts but still don't get cited, Query Fan-Out shows you why. See which fanout queries you're missing and create targeted content to capture them.

Stay ahead of AI search evolution. As AI engines get smarter at interpreting intent, their fanout patterns evolve. Track these changes over time and adapt your content strategy accordingly.

Your content might answer the question users ask, but AI engines search for something different. Query Fan-Out ensures you're visible to both.

Get started

Query Fan-Out is available today in Quadrant. Start tracking the high-intent queries that actually drive AI citations and optimize your content for what Answer Engines are really searching for.