Can You Use AI Chatbots for Keyword Research?<\/h2>\n
Yes, you can use AI chatbots for keyword research. But it\u2019s important to understand the technology\u2019s strengths and weaknesses before getting started.<\/p>\n
Generally, AI chatbots are good at identifying common terms found in written content because they learn from large datasets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chatbots are also good at understanding keyword meanings and relationships, thanks to their natural language processing and machine learning algorithms.<\/p>\n
That means you can ask a free chatbot like ChatGPT to provide keyword ideas based on a particular topic and get good results.<\/p>\n You can also ask AI chatbots to analyze search intent, group keywords into clusters, and complete some other keyword research tasks.\u00a0<\/p>\n So, using AI for keyword research can help you save time and cut costs.<\/p>\n However:<\/p>\n AI chatbots don\u2019t know what people actually type into search engines<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unlike traditional keyword research tools, chatbots don\u2019t have direct access to search engine data.<\/p>\n That means chatbots can\u2019t reliably tell you how popular a keyword is or how difficult it is to rank for. And this can make it hard to prioritize keywords effectively.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why many marketers use AI tools in combination with traditional keyword research tools<\/a>\u2014something I\u2019ll talk more about later.<\/p>\n You can use chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot as free AI keyword research tools.<\/p>\n Here are some quick tips for success with any of those options:<\/p>\n Below, I\u2019ll show you how each tool responded to AI keyword research prompts tested in March 2025. To give you a feel for the tools\u2019 capabilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n Just bear in mind that your results will vary.\u00a0<\/p>\n I asked ChatGPT<\/a> to provide keyword ideas for a blog post about AI keyword research, and the chatbot provided 30 keywords split into three lists:\u00a0<\/p>\n Overall, the keyword suggestions were relevant and could provide great inspiration to a content creator.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, I wouldn\u2019t recommend using more than one primary keyword<\/a> per post. And some of the primary keyword suggestions deviated from the main topic.\u00a0<\/p>\n I followed up by asking ChatGPT to evaluate the intent behind someone searching \u201cAI keyword research.\u201d<\/p>\n The tool provided suggestions based on the four main types of search intent<\/a>: informational, navigational, transactional, and commercial. So, this didn\u2019t really narrow down my options\u2014I\u2019d need to do additional work to determine the best approach for my content.<\/p>\n These outputs demonstrate that you need a good grasp of keyword strategy<\/a> basics to get the most out of AI keyword research. Just like you do with traditional keyword research<\/a>.<\/p>\n David Bell<\/a>, Co-Founder of Previsible SEO, recommends using Claude<\/a> for AI keyword research due to its reliability and high-quality output.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a prompt Bell recommends for generating keyword ideas for an article:<\/p>\n \u201cYou are an seo analyst looking to write a content piece around [topic]. Can you perform keyword research and find patterns of used words that might benefit in the creation and overall performance of this piece. I\u2019m adding a screenshot of what is ranking on page 1 on Google.\u201d<\/p>\n Bell also attaches a screenshot of the Google search engine results page (SERP)<\/a> for his target keyword, so Claude can gather insights from the top-ranking results.<\/p>\n Claude provided a variety of useful information, including:<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t like the first answer Claude gives you, try hitting the \u201cRetry\u201d button or providing a follow-up prompt.<\/p>\n I asked Google\u2019s Gemini chatbot<\/a> to provide keyword ideas for a blog post about AI keyword research, and the chatbot provided a large list split into multiple sections:<\/p>\n The keyword list contains many good suggestions but could be overwhelming for beginners. I\u2019d recommend using a follow-up prompt to narrow your results.<\/p>\n When I asked Gemini to analyze the intent behind \u201cAI keyword research,\u201d the chatbot provided a useful and focused analysis that could help me write an effective blog post.<\/p>\n When I asked Perplexity<\/a> to provide keyword ideas around AI keyword research, the tool shared a list of headline ideas rather than keywords.<\/p>\n But the AI chatbot provided some good ideas once I clarified the prompt.<\/p>\n One advantage of Perplexity is that it provides a list of web sources by default.\u00a0<\/p>\n Viewing these sources can provide some useful insight into competing content. Although, it\u2019s better to review top-ranking results on Google\u2019s SERP if that\u2019s where you want to rank.<\/p>\n Microsoft\u2019s Copilot chatbot<\/a> generated a list of 15 keywords when I asked for ideas relating to AI keyword research. And while some keywords were a little broad, they were all highly relevant.<\/p>\n Copilot also provided some good insight into search intent and suggested follow-up prompts to help me clarify my needs.<\/p>\n AI chatbots are good for brainstorming keyword ideas and analyzing search intent, but I recommend using a traditional keyword research tool to validate the keywords you find.<\/p>\n Validating a keyword means checking whether it\u2019s worth targeting based on real-world SEO data.<\/p>\n For example, Semrush\u2019s Keyword Overview<\/a> tool reveals keyword metrics including:<\/p>\n Metric<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Description<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n How It\u2019s Calculated<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Search volume<\/p>\n<\/td>\n The average number of searches for the keyword each month<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Real search engine data and machine learning algorithms\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Trend<\/p>\n<\/td>\n How actual search volumes have fluctuated over the past year<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Real search engine data and machine learning algorithms<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Personal Keyword Difficulty<\/p>\n<\/td>\n A measure of how hard it\u2019ll be for your domain to rank in Google\u2019s top 10 organic results<\/p>\n<\/td>\n AI algorithm that considers various factors relating to your domain and top-ranking domains<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Intent<\/p>\n<\/td>\n The type(s) of search intent behind the keyword<\/p>\n<\/td>\n![\"ChatGPT](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/eb\/0a\/eb0a7aa5e89f66d73c682e7683c54793\/320d4211c8aec191e5eb5d06451ab587\/AD_4nXdidm3IKsipsD1oye5JBC6kCBwb946JUvxuuR-4X4fgeqs6jGn568tCtEacjDGfRdmuPk4V_0H59v45ziZZHAFeYWl-XqkiPoGQwoWTFT_4bMxmat9Su4IVtea_ABt5hSCMeYcopA.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n5 Free Chatbots for AI Keyword Research<\/h2>\n
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ChatGPT<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture><\/figure>\n![\"ChatGPT](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/55\/b2\/55b280ecde0e62bf1c254020985a47bc\/288d736348d7b599873c738fd8b57372\/AD_4nXeIgKtr7mC9312aWHfL42kRKBlnCdL0i5ULIZ8g60CGIA-cmlLILDUd7TNi-E-uqPT2R1Hw3HQFLzJgzuiy_ZfewQgihOJrB_VG9GhBfS5ugXcfe6Oi1b8rRjMLUKWf_LIFAXef_g.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nClaude\u00a0<\/h3>\n
![\"Claude](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/f1\/4d\/f14d57e334fbf7f6715491f96277eb4a\/c0bec0c9ee6964ff12723a8c3e9590be\/AD_4nXe1n3yHxQWsISDTykZM_lkaehTSPhu3Dm9R-I-rmk5ZJEkMHtNsu3i3AITZ3DVLFuUhwR27I6Fwqh89eYvX7dvOWC6jb00lLRg5ci163mJ2H1m5cYNAD3cydIYtD6CkKl6isTi8Hg.webp\")
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![\"Claude](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/db\/77\/db777a1b71516ec01ed7cd1514c4ffd4\/01b0f77f6a69aefeee5aabdc178d29ef\/AD_4nXdu-QKko0h8DFHv-uZvw6qtGahCZ0Wz-xINw4h4ImLy4rWxp9spuy4glXME0Rnrj7Y6JIeUcDllmI3Eh0cQaygSWP_chwxNHx6B3Y9ibsQsD8sCplV4YUXs8fQ7dx7l9Kelhy3GNQ.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nGemini<\/h3>\n
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\u00a0<\/li>\n![\"Gemini](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/ce\/e6\/cee6ebd9ae3147a50e1dce33dc4eb65c\/d69dcc45d6060a7f516cfbfd31441569\/AD_4nXdbD8axFN02aS8uJqS2zqYSk2oyG6-NZnOHFkFUKTcdmg6Ntaukap66OC9X8_-pFE9jl2SHhjw47n6EldrwsuETBQJAJT6QqIQudWt2XQ93w0LL0F9Vb8CaEfRFkUGKtLzaiC4oqw.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n![\"Gemini](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/13\/d0\/13d0929a096b10301234b874ff027834\/d23a7b88dfee8318bbd78eb899a7eae3\/AD_4nXdmb8YleaompztTGgf5QdRgcdBOjEYuI8T52A9tCP8Iw53AAvn6YT462stq4oLQ9bRmPRMdIpSxXR76lSpqDPgmHEtJCySBva01bnC76A5kLCCgsz8hpd6powDHKyvEJgINtJEoVA.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nPerplexity<\/h3>\n
![\"Perplexity](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/c9\/07\/c907b6a10f48f81d4d349f59bc2e7b77\/924430fd1a67f1b876ce0e892ef84cb1\/AD_4nXc6KerQYwDCNjC3kYeNLTgpeJBjpsEuH8EWMNkT29OTwddVyP2x4fmrbF3DiqgQH4yxjp1SZfEHiSQunzQKPs-XmTnI3O8pmZHO_srdkW4yDDEj1cU8vYqIDsN18Mg0ciEeIfRQEw.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n![\"Perplexity](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/f6\/cb\/f6cb329ac3158520a2af3f401e00b89f\/7d12d9dbf6cb8dc4fcb199f27dd76731\/AD_4nXfbkm-P472j0WER0-NG70of_HFzhyO-4qZZ2iTaDYFxh0FRlnwfIIATJ6lQSRArF391raH5bn7ExRLgQoxGPz_1uPhkNdXaRsI0R350G7GV2uLoVZEQVj_FCYeMjYSU_NEk-BQX9w.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\nCopilot<\/h3>\n
![\"Copilot](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/da\/5c\/da5cde19cd9f36faf4899cfbf82955c5\/cbffdd5e58164965daef02594b802e08\/AD_4nXfj6nP1J0vmCTH3EYYXTKXwpVDewSK5pz-mFJ_BTMf7z_jtWBLKzZFYyd85PmCqoMWC6LdFfKiIeE1SdGEUNx9ZB22sX9rFEVBA2O-q4TInblJj3I8jqBQoMyBfOp3eXV3nuabyDQ.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n![\"Copilot](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/04\/ae\/04ae34b000f08877554c003364b3dc6d\/d493211d34c4c238f074a412d9449696\/AD_4nXezqgFld07O5CP3De0OBfAVj9BG3lZ1ZqVozvrDm9wyZWdYSYfdpZKPMPXNGsgkCFMWftimrBsIz4smk3C2_hGqI0DM8hL-xO4z2yVLX0JTpcPo3-87o9K4fJUUONJLIrugbQOo.webp\")
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![\"Keyword](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/a7\/96\/a7965385e8549daa8010e43d67b2da62\/2f2c59576c0f7578bfeac262c7d6e7b4\/AD_4nXf_KEni7XV5LBpviWvb073hSFjbCPsejtrs8bMDwc30BPUrePK1Dd7WZGo_c9SPfunFWNvzPEz_XUlWRXHn7iwzn2ypaVH3THWqnEPuWBoYrwgfJZLKPWK0_wogf-tv5deMzx2sPg.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n![\"Keyword](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/7b\/b5\/7bb50f689f3fc60c8cb26c494e0339fd\/aa3494c21a9cb39b7203711f901663db\/image.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n![\"Keyword](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/0a\/a6\/0aa6ed2ef4459e49fcc89677e8aaf2bf\/3a0b2124d0f596fcc81f10ed450862c0\/image.webp\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n![\"Keyword](\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/blog\/uploads\/media\/50\/56\/50564ad8e84ef93d11d8763ffc66b5f2\/7600fc96d63212f33f84069578537676\/image.webp\")
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