AI search glossary

    What is Grounding?

    Also known as: Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)

    Grounding is when an AI system fetches up-to-date pages and bases its answer on them, rather than relying only on what it learned in training.

    Google describes its AI features as retrieving pages from its Search index using its core ranking systems, then showing links to the pages that support the answer.

    Why it matters for your business

    Grounding is how fresh web pages, including yours, make it into AI answers. Without it, an AI only knows what it learned in training.

    How it works

    1. 1

      Retrieve

      The system searches for pages relevant to the question.

    2. 2

      Read

      It pulls the passages that answer the question.

    3. 3

      Answer and link

      It writes an answer based on those passages and links to them.

    Common misunderstandings

    Myth

    AI answers are made up from nothing.

    Reality

    Grounded answers are based on real pages, which is why being findable and quotable matters.

    What to do about it

    • Keep your key pages crawlable by search and AI crawlers.
    • Put clear, factual answers near the top of each page.

    Questions people ask

    Is grounding the same as RAG?

    Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) is the technical name for the same idea.

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    Sources

    Related terms

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    Defined by Dr. Radhakrishnan KG, founder of WebNamaste · Reviewed 6 October 2026