What is a transformer model, and why is it important for LLMs?

The transformer is the foundational architecture behind modern LLMs like GPT. Introduced in a groundbreaking 2017 research paper, transformers revolutionized natural language processing by allowing models to consider the entire context of a sentence at once, rather than just word-by-word sequences.

The key innovation is the attention mechanism, which helps the model decide which words in a sentence are most relevant to each other, essentially mimicking how humans pay attention to specific details in a conversation.

Transformers make it possible for LLMs to generate more coherent, context-aware, and accurate responses.

This is why they're at the heart of most state-of-the-art language models today.

Last updated at  
September 29, 2025
Other FAQ
How do Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT actually work?
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Large Language Models (LLMs) are AI systems trained on massive amounts of text data, from websites to books, to understand and generate language.

They use deep learning algorithms, specifically transformer architectures, to model the structure and meaning of language.

LLMs don't "know" facts in the way humans do. Instead, they predict the next word in a sequence using probabilities, based on the context of everything that came before it. This ability enables them to produce fluent and relevant responses across countless topics.

For a deeper look at the mechanics, check out our full blog post: How Large Language Models Work.

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Does RankWit support multiple countries?
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Yes! RankWit includes unlimited country tracking across all plans at no additional cost.
You can monitor AI visibility for any market worldwide.

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How does WebMCP handle user privacy and prevent AI agents from performing unauthorized actions?
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Security is baked into the protocol's core. Unlike "headless" automation, WebMCP operates within the user’s current browser session:

  • Consent Gate: The browser acts as a gatekeeper, prompting the user to approve tool calls.
  • Scoped Access: AI agents only see the specific tools the developer has explicitly registered via the webmcp-tools suite.
  • Authentication: It leverages the site's existing login and security protocols, ensuring the AI never bypasses standard safety measures.

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How does RankWit track AI visibility?
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RankWit gives you a complete picture of how your brand appears across major AI platforms.
We run structured prompts through leading AI systems (including ChatGPT, Google AI Overview, and Perplexity) and then evaluate the responses for:

  • Brand mentions
  • Sentiment
  • Ranking or positioning
  • Competitor visibility
  • Opportunities and risks

This analysis helps you understand exactly how AI systems perceive and present your brand.

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Which plan should I choose: Starter, Growth, or Enterprise?
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RankWit plans are designed to scale with your needs:

  • Starter: Best for freelancers, consultants, and small agencies beginning with AI visibility tracking.
  • Growth: Great for established agencies, marketing teams, and organizations with multiple websites.
  • Enterprise: Built for large companies needing advanced customization, higher credit volumes, and dedicated support.

If you’re unsure, we can help you select the best plan based on your tracking volume and team size.

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What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?
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Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), also known as Large Language Model Optimization (LLMO), is the process of optimizing content to increase its visibility and relevance within AI-generated responses from tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity.

Unlike traditional SEO, which targets search engine rankings, GEO focuses on how large language models interpret, prioritize, and present information to users in conversational outputs. The goal is to influence how and when content appears in AI-driven answers.

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What’s the difference between GEO and AEO?
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Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) are closely related strategies, but they serve different purposes in how content is discovered and used by AI technologies.

  • AEO is focused on helping your content become the direct answer to user queries in AI-powered answer engines like Google's SGE (Search Generative Experience), Bing, or voice assistants. It emphasizes clear formatting, Q&A structure, and schema markup so that AI systems can easily extract and present your content in snippets or spoken responses.
  • GEO, on the other hand, is a broader approach designed to ensure your content is used, synthesized, or cited by generative AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity. It involves creating high-quality, authoritative content that large language models (LLMs) recognize as trustworthy and relevant. It may also include using metadata tools (like llms.txt) to guide how AI systems interpret and prioritize your content.
In short:
AEO helps you be the answer in AI search results. GEO helps you be the source that generative AI platforms trust and cite.

Together, these strategies are essential for maximizing visibility in an AI-first search landscape.

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Why does GEO matter now?
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Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is becoming increasingly critical as user behavior shifts toward AI-native search tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.
According with Bain, recent data shows that over 40% of users now prefer AI-generated answers over traditional search engine results.
This trend reflects a major evolution in how people discover and consume information.

Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on ranking in static search results, GEO ensures that your content is understandable, relevant, and authoritative enough to be cited or surfaced in LLM-generated responses.
This is especially important as AI platforms begin to integrate live web search capabilities, summaries, and citations directly into their answers.

The urgency is amplified by user traffic trends. According to Similarweb data (see chart below), ChatGPT visits are projected to surpass Google’s by December 2026 if current growth continues.
This suggests that visibility in LLMs may soon be as important—if not more—than traditional search rankings.

Projection based on traffic from the last 6 months (source: Similarweb US).

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Is it difficult for developers to implement WebMCP on an existing website or application?
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Implementing WebMCP is streamlined through the Google Chrome Labs toolkit. Developers have two primary paths:

  • Declarative: Simply add toolname and tooldescription attributes to existing HTML <form> tags.
  • Imperative: Use the navigator.modelContext.registerTool() API to expose complex JavaScript functions as callable AI tools.This flexibility allows teams to start with basic functionality and scale to complex integrations without a total architecture overhaul.

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How does RankWit monitor whether my brand is being cited in AI answers?
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RankWit continuously scans generative AI engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity to see if, when, and how your content is referenced. We then aggregate this data into an easy-to-read dashboard, showing:

  • Which platforms are citing your brand
  • The types of questions where you appear
  • How your visibility changes over time
    This monitoring ensures you know exactly where your brand is gaining traction—or losing ground—within AI-driven discovery.

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