{
  "kind": "tracker",
  "studySlug": "llmstxt-effect",
  "slug": "llmstxt-adoption-by-sector-tracker",
  "title": "llms.txt adoption by sector",
  "description": "Adoption skew across named industry groups in the Trakkr study.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-03-14",
  "lastTested": "2026-03-14",
  "sourceStudyUrl": "/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect",
  "sourceStudyTitle": "The llms.txt Effect",
  "claimIds": [
    "llmstxt-effect:saas-adoption",
    "llmstxt-effect:gov-academic-adoption",
    "llmstxt-effect:adoption"
  ],
  "relatedSlugs": [
    "answer:how-common-is-llms-txt-on-ai-cited-domains",
    "answer:is-llms-txt-more-common-on-top-domains-than-the-long-tail",
    "fact:median-citations-are-identical-with-and-without-llms-txt"
  ],
  "methodologySummary": "Built from HTTP scans of 37,894 AI-cited domains, linked to 337,362 citations and 882 citation snapshots in the Trakkr corpus.",
  "limitations": [
    "This is an observational study. It measures correlation with citation outcomes, not a controlled experiment.",
    "Adoption is uneven by sector, so raw averages can hide category concentration in SaaS and developer tooling.",
    "A null citation effect does not mean llms.txt has zero operational value for every workflow. It means the study did not find a measurable citation lift."
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "llms.txt",
    "llms txt effect",
    "AI citations",
    "does llms.txt work"
  ],
  "schemaHints": {
    "pageType": "WebPage",
    "includeDataset": true,
    "includeItemList": true,
    "itemListName": "llms.txt adoption by sector"
  },
  "summary": "llms.txt adoption is highest in SaaS and developer-heavy environments and much lower in government, academic, and reference-heavy sectors.",
  "keyFacts": [
    {
      "label": "SaaS/developer adoption",
      "value": "24.1%",
      "detail": "Highest named category adoption in the study.",
      "claimId": "llmstxt-effect:saas-adoption"
    },
    {
      "label": "Government/academic adoption",
      "value": "1.5%",
      "detail": "Much lower adoption outside SaaS-heavy sectors.",
      "claimId": "llmstxt-effect:gov-academic-adoption"
    },
    {
      "label": "Adoption rate",
      "value": "13.3%",
      "detail": "Domains with llms.txt in the study.",
      "claimId": "llmstxt-effect:adoption"
    }
  ],
  "benchmarkRows": [
    {
      "label": "SaaS/developer adoption",
      "value": "24.1%",
      "note": "Highest named category adoption in the study."
    },
    {
      "label": "Government/academic adoption",
      "value": "1.5%",
      "note": "Much lower adoption outside SaaS-heavy sectors."
    },
    {
      "label": "Adoption rate",
      "value": "13.3%",
      "note": "Domains with llms.txt in the study."
    }
  ],
  "rankedItems": [
    {
      "name": "SaaS / Developer Tools",
      "value": "24.1%",
      "detail": "The highest named category adoption in the study."
    },
    {
      "name": "E-commerce",
      "value": "18.2%",
      "detail": "Moderate technical adoption."
    },
    {
      "name": "News / Media",
      "value": "15.7%",
      "detail": "Adoption near the study average."
    },
    {
      "name": "Government / Academic",
      "value": "1.5%",
      "detail": "Very low adoption despite strong authority."
    },
    {
      "name": "Reference / Wiki",
      "value": "0%",
      "detail": "No observed llms.txt adoption in the named category."
    }
  ],
  "changes": [
    {
      "title": "Adoption looks cultural as much as strategic",
      "detail": "Technical sectors adopt faster even without evidence of citation lift."
    },
    {
      "title": "Authority does not require the file",
      "detail": "Some of the strongest authority sectors still barely use llms.txt."
    }
  ]
}