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AI FUNDAMENTALS

Knowledge Cutoff

The date after which an LLM has no information from its training data.

DEFINITION

What is Knowledge Cutoff?

A knowledge cutoff is the date that marks the end of an LLM's training data. Information published after this date is not part of the model's core knowledge. For example, if an LLM has a knowledge cutoff of April 2024, it won't know about events, products, or content published after that date unless it has access to real-time retrieval systems. Understanding knowledge cutoffs is important for AI visibility strategy, as it affects what the model inherently knows about your brand.

IN PRACTICE

We optimize for both the model's base knowledge and retrieval systems to ensure current information about your brand is accessible.

WHY IT MATTERS

If your brand launched or significantly changed after an LLM's cutoff, the model may have outdated or no information about you. This affects recommendations until retrieval systems or new training update the model's knowledge.

EXAMPLES
01

A product launched in 2025 might not be in a model trained on 2024 data

02

Company rebranding after the cutoff won't be reflected in base model knowledge

03

New features or services may not be known to the model

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How often do LLMs update their knowledge cutoffs?

Major models typically update 1-2 times per year, but this varies. Some platforms add retrieval systems for more current information.

How do I get current information to AI assistants?

Focus on platforms with retrieval capabilities (like Perplexity) and ensure your website is optimized for AI crawlers that feed retrieval systems.

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