Is ChatGPT an LLM or generative AI?

ChatGPT is both, without contradiction. The product is a chat application built on top of an LLM, currently OpenAI's GPT models, which generate the text responses. LLM describes the underlying technology.

Generative AI is the wider umbrella term that LLMs fall under, alongside image and audio generation tools. So ChatGPT is an application powered by an LLM, and that LLM is one specific type of generative AI.

The distinction matters mostly for accuracy in conversation. For GEO purposes, what counts is that ChatGPT's underlying LLM decides which web content to cite when its search feature pulls in outside sources.

Our generative engine optimization softwaretracks exactly when ChatGPT cites your content.