# ChatGPT Search site:operator use jumped to 16-17% in Promptwatch tracking

> Source: <https://www.snipvote.com/story/cmt2mkoil0006zejeakv02csq>
> Published: 2026-08-21 08:12:35.754424+00:00

[Simon Willison](https://simonwillison.net/2026/Aug/20/chatgpt-search-now-uses-the-siteoperator-at-scale/)

### ChatGPT Search site:operator use jumped to 16-17% in Promptwatch tracking

Which summary reads better? Pick one — models revealed after.Both summaries are AI-generated.

ChatGPT search queries using domain-specific filtering jumped from under 0.5% to 16-17% of all search fanouts following the GPT-5.6 rollout, while simultaneously throttling sources like Reddit. This aggressive shift toward targeted domain-restricted search breaks traditional open-web and forum-seeding discovery strategies for production LLM integrations. To maintain visibility in user-facing LLM searches, teams must pivot their generative engine optimization from broad web-indexing tactics to securing authority within these highly concentrated domain filters.

Mistral Large quota or rate limit — check usage and plan. Original headline: ChatGPT search now uses the site:operator at scale