Nostimates

Google AI Mode prompt volatility tracking

google_ai_modeprompt_volatilityAnonymous

Query fan-out makes AI Mode the most volatile Western surface we track. Volatility scoring is not optional here — it is how you avoid reporting noise as movement.

How it renders

Derived across the sample set.

Sampling

Volatility is what tells you the right n for every other field. We recommend using it to allocate credits: sample noisy prompts deeply, stable prompts lightly.

Gotcha

AI Mode volatility can exceed AI Overviews volatility on the same prompt by a wide margin. Copying an n across both surfaces will underfund one of them.

What the API returns

A single collection call against Google AI Mode for the prompt volatility field, sampled n times and returned as one object per prompt.

{
  "engine": "google_ai_mode",
  "field": "prompt_volatility",
  "prompt": "best ai visibility tracking tool",
  "country": "GB",
  "language": "en",
  "n": 30,
  "volatility": {
    "jaccard": 0.42,
    "mention_variance": 0.11,
    "recommended_n": 75,
    "band": "moderate"
  }
}
GET /v1/collect?engine=google_ai_mode&field=prompt_volatility

Response fields

KeyTypeNotes
jaccardfloatMean pairwise citation-set overlap across samples.
mention_variancefloatVariance in brand presence across samples.
recommended_nintegerSamples needed for a ±10 point interval on this prompt.
bandstringstable | moderate | volatile.

What it costs

Derived from samples you already pay for. No separate charge.

See credit pricing →

Google AI Mode prompt volatility FAQ

Why is AI Mode more volatile?
Each sample re-runs fan-out, and different sub-searches surface different sources, so citation sets drift more between samples.
What n does a volatile AI Mode prompt need?
Often forty or more. The recommended_n field returns the figure per prompt rather than guessing globally.

Size AI Mode sampling from measured noise

We'll run a volatility pass and give you a per-prompt n before you commit budget.

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Across every engine

Compare how prompt volatility behaves on every engine we track.

Prompt volatility across all engines →