Effective: October 22, 2026 · Last updated: October 22, 2026
AI Visibility Journal (AVJ) is an editorially independent publication that researches how AI systems find, describe, cite and recommend brands.
People now ask AI systems, not only search engines, what to buy, whom to hire and whom to trust. ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity and Claude increasingly shape first impressions of companies, products and people. Much of what is written about this shift is speculation, marketing, or both.
We exist to replace guesswork with evidence.
Read why we started AI Visibility Journal: Why AVJ.
At a glance
- What we are: An editorially independent, English-language research publication
- What we study: How AI systems find, describe, cite and recommend brands
- Founded: 2026, by a small group of researchers based in the United States, Singapore and Vietnam
- Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief: Nhi Phan
- Ownership and funding: Owned and funded by its co-founder. No outside investors, advertisers or sponsors
- Paid rankings or coverage: Never
- Newsletter: The Visibility Brief, weekly, free
What we publish
- Research. Original studies with a stated question, documented methods, published limitations and, wherever licensing allows, open data. Each study names its data sources and any third-party data provider in its own methodology.
- The AVJ Citation Index. A recurring, reproducible measurement of which sources AI systems cite, and how that changes over time. The first edition is scheduled for December 2026.
- Guides. Practical, sourced explanations of how AI search works and what organizations can responsibly do about it.
- Analysis and News. What changed, what it means, and how confident anyone should be.
- Interviews. Conversations with researchers and practitioners, conducted in writing and edited for clarity.
- The Visibility Brief. A free weekly newsletter for people who need to understand this field without reading everything.
Our principles
Evidence over opinion. We separate what we measured from what we infer, and we say which is which.
Methods in the open. Every study explains how it was done, so others can check it, challenge it and repeat it. Where we pre-register a study, we say so and link to the registration.
Independent by design. No company can pay to be included in, excluded from or ranked in our research or the Index. We accept no payment for coverage. Our commitments are in our Ethics & Independence Statement.
Accountable. When we get something wrong, we correct it publicly and explain what changed. See our Corrections policy and log.
Open about AI. We use AI tools in our work, and we explain exactly how. A person decides what is true and what we publish. See our AI Use Policy.
How we work
Every piece we publish follows the same path: a stated question, sources graded by strength, a claim-by-claim check against the original sources, an edit for logic and certainty, and a final pre-publication review. Original research adds a written design before data collection, a methodology section and a reproducibility check. The details are public:
- Editorial standards: sourcing, fact-checking, labels and updates
- Methodology: how we measure AI visibility
- AI Use Policy: where we use AI, and where we never do
- Corrections: how to report an error, and our public log
- Disclosures: ownership, revenue and relationships
- Citation and reuse policy: what you may reuse and how to cite us
What we don’t do
- Sell rankings, inclusion in research, badges or awards.
- Accept payment, gifts or favors for coverage, or publish paid guest posts.
- Treat an AI chatbot’s answer as a source of fact.
- Publish AI-generated illustrations.
Who we serve
Marketing, SEO, communications and product leaders; the agencies and analysts who advise them; and the researchers and journalists who study how information reaches the public.
Ownership and funding
AI Visibility Journal was founded in 2026 by a small group of researchers based in the United States, Singapore and Vietnam.
AVJ is owned and funded by its co-founder, Nhi Phan. There are no outside investors, advertisers or sponsors.
If we use a third-party provider to collect or license data, we name it in the methodology of each study.
AVJ is not affiliated with any AI company, AI visibility software vendor, SEO platform or agency. It is unrelated to “AI VJ” visual performance software.
If we introduce revenue, which could include reader subscriptions, clearly labeled sponsorship, events or data licensing, we will list every source on our Disclosures page before it begins. The rules that protect our editorial independence are in our Ethics & Independence Statement.
Masthead
Nhi Phan, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Trained as a pharmacist, Nhi Phan brings a grounding in evidence and rigorous method to how AI systems represent brands. Author page
Nhi Phan edits and is accountable for everything we publish. Contact: [email protected]. We use AI-assisted tools for parts of research, drafting and checking, as described in our AI Use Policy. Contributors, when we have them, are listed on their author pages. We will publish an advisory board if one is formed, with each member’s affiliations.
How to reach us
- Editorial and general: [email protected]
- Tips and research ideas: [email protected]
- Corrections: [email protected]
- Press: [email protected]
More on our Contact page.
AI Visibility Journal publishes in English for a global readership, with particular attention to the United States, Europe and Australia.