Where AI gets its info: Top 10 sources

By Afiur
January 01, 2026

Every time you turn to AI with any questions, it responds in matter of seconds. That intelligence is powered by the treasure trove of data that already exists online. Here are the top 10 sources, acco

Reddit is AI’s biggest information mine. The platform is  packed with real-life experiences and niche discussions. It offers practical and humane inputs.1. Reddit 1. Reddit Image: Canva

Wikipedia is the go-to for structured information but may not always be reliable beyond the basics and background information. 2. Wikipedia 2. Wikipedia Image: Wikipedia

AI pulls from video transcripts, explainers, and tutorials on YouTube. This works well for how-to content but often prioritises popularity over depth or accuracy.3. YouTube 3. YouTube Image: Canva

Search-indexed pages help AI understand what information is most visible online. That means SEO-friendly content often gets amplified, not necessarily the best or most rigorous reporting.4. Google4. G

Yelp feeds AI with crowd-sourced reviews on businesses and services. Helpful for quick recommendations, but heavily influenced by personal experiences and rating biases.5. Yelp5. YelpImage: Reuters

Public posts and discussions on Facebook shape AI responses around trends and opinions. 6. Facebook6. FacebookImage: Canva

When it comes to online shopping, much of information that AI chatbots have on product listings and customer reviews come from Amazon. 7. Amazon7. AmazonImage: Reuters

Travel reviews and rankings guide AI responses on hotels, attractions, and destinations. While they are great for broad guidance, it won’t have the best local insights.8. Tripadvisor8. TripadvisorImag

Mapbox provides geospatial and location data that AI uses for navigation and mapping-related questions. It’s technical, accurate, and mostly behind-the-scenes.9. Mapbox9. MapboxImage: mapbox

This open-source mapping platform feeds AI with location data. This platform’s strength too is community updates, though data quality can vary by region.10. OpenStreetMap10. OpenStreetMap

See More Stories