AI Large Language Models (LLMs) don’t actually “crawl” in the same way all the time. Their frequency depends on whether they are training (building the model) or answering (finding real-time info).
1. Training Crawls (The Foundation)
For the massive datasets used to build models like GPT-4 or Gemini, crawling is usually monthly or periodic.
- Common Crawl: This is the primary data source for most LLMs. It adds 3–5 billion new pages every month.
- Snapshots: Major models are trained on “snapshots” of the internet. For example, GPT-4 had a major training update that included data up to December 2023.
- Re-training: Training a full flagship model takes roughly 3 months, so the “knowledge” in the core model typically lags behind by several months.
2. Search & Answer Crawls (Real-Time)
If you use an AI with “search” capabilities (like ChatGPT with Search, Perplexity, or Gemini), the crawling is aggressive and near real-time.
- Frequency: Training bots can return every 6 hours for popular sites, whereas traditional search engines like Google might visit daily or weekly.
- Speed: AI search bots often crawl new content the same day it is published to provide fresh answers to user queries.
- Intensity: AI crawlers are known to hit sites heavily, sometimes making 1,000 to 39,000 requests per minute to extract data quickly.
3. Summary of Key Players
| Crawler | Who owns it? | Frequency |
| GPTBot | OpenAI | High-intensity (training & search). |
| CCBot | Common Crawl | Monthly updates. |
| Googlebot | Continuous (powers both Search and Gemini). | |
| OAI-SearchBot | OpenAI | Real-time (specifically for search results). |
Note: Many websites are now actively blocking these crawlers. Up to 48% of major news sites block OpenAI’s bot to prevent their content from being used for free training.
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About the Author
Brian French is the CEO of Florida Website Marketing and Florida AI Agency. For over 15 years, Brian served as an Internet Marketing Professional for BoardroomPR, one of Florida’s largest public relations firms. He is a specialist in local SEO, AEO, and AI-driven marketing strategies tailored for the Florida business landscape. Connect with Brian on LinkedIn Visit his websites FloridaWebsiteMarketing.com and FloridaAIAgency.com or text him at 813 409-4683 for a consultation.
About Brian French
Led by a commitment to tech-intelligent curation, Brian French tracks and analyzes the Business News in South Florida including corporate developments defining Florida's economy. Brian brings an extensive financial background to his analysis, having graduated from the University of South Florida in Finance and serving as a Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Merrill Lynch Private Investors and the Trust Department in St. Petersburg, FL, as well as a Vice President and Trust Investment Officer for SunTrust Bank in Sarasota, FL. His writing blends macroeconomic trends, capital markets, corporate strategy, and modern digital insights for a sophisticated look at Florida's dynamic business economy.
