What are AI crawlers and how do they differ from traditional crawlers?

AI crawlers are specialized web robots that harvest public content to train large language models (LLMs) or fetch pages on-demand for AI assistants. Unlike traditional crawlers that primarily index for search results, AI crawlers can generate significant traffic loads and may bypass typical crawling rules when triggered by user queries.

What are the main types of AI crawlers?

There are three main types: Training Bots (continuously scan the web for model pre-training like GPTBot and ClaudeBot), Indexing Bots (build specialized search indexes like OAI-SearchBot and PerplexityBot), and On-Demand Fetchers (activate only when users request live content like ChatGPT-User and Claude-User).

Which companies operate the most important AI crawlers?

The major AI crawler operators include OpenAI (GPTBot, ChatGPT-User, OAI-SearchBot), Anthropic (ClaudeBot, Claude-User, Claude-SearchBot), Google (Google-Extended), Microsoft (Bingbot), Apple (Applebot-Extended), Amazon (Amazonbot), Meta (Meta-ExternalAgent, facebookexternalhit), Perplexity AI (PerplexityBot), and Common Crawl (CCBot).

How can I track and monitor AI crawler activity on my website?

You can track AI crawlers by regularly scanning server logs for specific User-Agent tokens, using specialized tools like Qwairy Crawler Analytics for real-time monitoring and anomaly detection, setting up alerts when bots exceed defined thresholds, and exporting periodic reports to track trends and ROI.

How do I control which AI crawlers can access my website?

Control AI crawler access through your robots.txt file by defining explicit User-agent rules for each crawler. You can allow all, block specific training crawlers while allowing search bots, or block all AI crawlers completely. Tools like Qwairy can help validate your robots.txt configuration and simulate how each crawler will interpret your directives.

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Understanding AI Crawlers: Complete Guide 2025 | Qwairy

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Understanding AI Crawlers: The Complete Guide for 2025

Nicolas Ilhe•June 19, 2025•Updated Dec 21, 2025•7 min read•

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Discover everything you need to know about AI crawlers, from GPTBot to ClaudeBot. Learn how to control access, optimize for AI visibility, and prepare for the AI-powered web.

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