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.
More AI Optimization Questions Answered:
The Ultimate Florida AI Marketing Guide: Nine Critical Questions Every Local Business Must Answer
The Definitive Florida AI Marketing Guide: 5 Critical Questions Every Local Business Owner Must Fix
Florida AI Marketing Guide: Five Critical Questions Every Local Business Owner Must Answer
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.
