AI SEO
AI-Crawler robots.txt Generator
Create robots.txt rules for known AI crawlers such as GPTBot, Google-Extended, and CCBot.
Worked example and publication checksGenerator
Choose a policy, review the crawler groups, then copy the generated robots.txt rules.
Included crawler tokens
From input to publication
Worked example: allow discovery, decline training
A fictional documentation site wants AI search discovery while asking listed model-training crawlers not to fetch its content. These are crawler instructions, not access control or a guarantee of compliance.
Example inputs
- Website URL
- https://example.com
- Policy
- Keep AI search visibility, block model training
- Included groups
- All three
- Sitemap and default rule
- Enabled
Expected excerpt from the generated file
User-agent: OAI-SearchBot
Allow: /
User-agent: GPTBot
Disallow: /Understand what each token controls
OAI-SearchBot and GPTBot are separate tokens in the generated file. The first remains allowed under this policy while the second is disallowed. Google-Extended is also listed for the uses governed by that token; it is not the normal Googlebot search crawler.
The default User-agent: * rule allows other crawlers. It does not override a more specific matching group. A crawler that ignores robots.txt can still fetch public content, so confidential documentation must require authentication.
Merge with your existing robots.txt
Download the complete generated file, not just the excerpt above. Before publishing, retain any existing non-AI restrictions that your site still needs. Replacing a production file blindly can expose unwanted crawl paths or remove a sitemap declaration.
If your existing file already contains a token generated here, consolidate its rules deliberately. Check the final file at https://example.com/robots.txt. A subdomain needs its own file; the root domain's rules are not inherited.
Change groups without reversing the policy
The checkboxes include or omit a group from the generated file. They do not mean allow or block. After choosing Block all, omitting the training group leaves the remaining included groups blocked. Omitted crawlers may then fall back to the default rule, so review the output whenever you change inclusion.
User-requested assistant fetches and search indexes can follow different provider rules. This file covers the listed tokens only. Check the provider documentation when adding a new crawler, and do not advertise a comprehensive block of every AI system.
Verification checklist
- Find Allow under OAI-SearchBot and Disallow under GPTBot in the default policy.
- Select Block all, omit the training group, and confirm OAI-SearchBot remains disallowed.
- Compare the final file with the previous production robots.txt before replacing it.
- Test the public robots.txt URL and preserve unrelated search-engine rules.
Example and source review: .
What this tool is for
AI-related crawlers now serve different purposes. Some discover content for search-like AI answers, some are used for training, and some are operated by commercial data providers. A single allow-or-block decision is often too rough for publishers, agencies, and site owners who want visibility in AI search while still limiting reuse for model training.
This generator helps create a clear robots.txt draft for common AI crawlers. It is designed for practical policy decisions: allow discovery, block training crawlers, or block all known AI user agents. The output is plain robots.txt text, so it can be reviewed, copied, and combined with existing crawler rules.
How to use it
- Choose whether your goal is visibility, restriction, or a mixed policy.
- Select the AI crawlers you want to allow or disallow.
- Copy the generated block and merge it carefully into the existing robots.txt file.
- Test the final robots.txt URL and monitor server logs for crawlers that ignore public rules.
Other use cases
Publisher that wants AI visibility
Allow crawlers connected to search visibility and block crawlers used only for broad data collection. This keeps the site discoverable while still expressing limits.
Documentation site
Allow AI crawlers to access public docs, but disallow private, staged, search, account, or generated result areas. Combine crawler rules with normal path rules.
Client website with strict content policy
Block known AI crawlers by default and document the reason internally. This is useful when contract language, licensing, or industry rules require a conservative position.
Important notes
- robots.txt is an instruction for compliant crawlers. It is not an access-control system.
- Rules are domain-specific. A rule on example.com does not automatically apply to app.example.com or cdn.example.com.
- Keep a dated changelog of crawler policy changes. This makes later client or legal questions easier to answer.
Limitations
- Unknown or non-compliant crawlers can ignore robots.txt.
- Blocking a crawler can reduce visibility in services that depend on that crawler.
- The crawler landscape changes, so the rule list must be reviewed regularly.
Sources and review context
This page is maintained by Martin Trixner and was last reviewed on September 9, 2026. The tool output is based on public documentation and should still be tested against the target platform before production use.
FAQ
Should AI search crawlers be blocked?
Usually not if visibility in AI search and answer engines matters. A common strategy is to allow AI search crawlers while blocking crawlers used for model training.
Does robots.txt guarantee that every AI system will comply?
No. robots.txt is a public instruction for compliant crawlers. Important sites should also monitor logs and use firewall rules where needed.
Where should the generated file be placed?
The robots.txt file belongs in the root of each domain or subdomain, for example https://example.com/robots.txt.
Can I allow AI search but block AI training?
Often yes, depending on crawler identity. A mixed policy can allow discovery crawlers while disallowing crawlers associated with broad model training or data collection.
Does a robots.txt rule remove existing content from AI systems?
No. robots.txt affects future compliant crawling. It does not remove copies or summaries that may already exist elsewhere.
Should I block all AI crawlers by default?
That depends on the site goal. Sites that depend on visibility may prefer selective rules, while licensed or sensitive content may require a stricter policy.