---
title: AI Traffic Types
description: Understand how SeeLLM classifies observed crawler requests, retrieval requests, and detectable referrals.
audience: [human, agent]
type: concept
version: v1
stability: stable
lastVerified: "2026-08-01"
prerequisites: [/docs/evidence-model/]
related: [/docs/guides/weekly-trends/, /docs/api/analytics-endpoints/]
artifacts: []
---

## How SeeLLM classifies requests

SeeLLM classifies server-side requests using signals such as user agents, request headers, network information where available, and request behavior. Classification describes what was observed; it does not prove how a model used the page.

Read the [Evidence Model](/docs/evidence-model/) for the definitions and limits behind each result.

### Human traffic

Browser requests that resemble normal user navigation. Signals can include a standard browser user agent, HTML and asset requests, and referrer headers.

### AI retrieval

A user-directed or search-oriented request when a platform exposes a distinguishable signal, such as `ChatGPT-User` or `Claude-User`. A retrieval request shows that the platform fetched a page in a live-use context. It does not by itself prove that the answer displayed a citation or quote.

### Crawler traffic

Requests from bots used for indexing, discovery, or training. Examples include `GPTBot` and `ClaudeBot`. A crawler visit proves an observed request to a URL, subject to classification confidence; it does not show that the page appeared in an answer.

### AI referral

A human visit with a detectable referrer from an AI product. Because some clients strip referrer headers, referral counts are a measurable lower bound rather than a complete total.

## Classification signals

| Signal | What it can support | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| User agent | Claimed crawler or retrieval identity | Can be spoofed |
| Network information | Vendor ownership where published and verified | Not available for every platform |
| Headers | Request context and content preferences | Not proof of answer output |
| Request patterns | Supporting behavioral classification | Can resemble other automation |
| Referrer | Detectable AI-origin human visit | Often stripped by clients |

## Interpret the funnel carefully

A crawler visit, a user-directed retrieval, a sampled citation, and an AI referral are separate observations. Compare them at the same URL and over a stated observation window. Do not infer citation or referral growth from crawler activity alone.