To be cited by AI as an expert, you need public, quotable, corroborated content that establishes your authority in a specific niche. Publish clear writing and original data in your field, earn references on the sources models trust, and describe yourself consistently everywhere so the engine builds a confident picture. Authority is not claimed, it is corroborated, and the engines cite the people the wider web already treats as the source.
An assistant treats you as an expert when many trusted sources point the same way. That means published work in your niche, references from others, and a consistent identity, not a self-declared title.
Original data is the strongest form of this. A study or dataset in your field is the single most cited kind of content, and it doubles as proof of expertise.
It compounds. A single strong piece rarely does it, but consistent, corroborated publishing in a narrow niche builds authority the engines recognize over time.
Yes. Original data is the most cited content type in AI answers, earns links, and proves expertise all at once. It is the highest-leverage move for authority.
Surfd measures how the assistants actually describe you, scores your discoverability, and drafts the fixes. Free to start.