A list of queries can make a publisher’s next move look obvious. Before adding another page, check whether an existing article already answers the reader’s question.
Bing adds a topic view to AI Performance
Bing’s October 13 announcement introduces Topics Portfolio in Bing Webmaster Tools. The beta groups grounding queries into themes and shows where your site appears in AI-generated answers. Access depends on sufficient activity on the site; a missing tab does not indicate a technical problem.
The topic view includes estimated citation volume across sites, the number of cited sites, and the number of grounding queries. Opportunity Queries identifies queries where other sites appear, and yours does not. Citation volumes for these opportunities appear as ranges.
An opportunity query still needs an editorial decision
Bing describes the numbers as directional. Topic classification uses AI, and branded queries can appear among opportunities. The report measures citation activity, not purchases or the number of readers who will visit your page.
I would first match an opportunity to the closest existing URL. If that page already serves the same reader, check for a missing answer, dated evidence, or an unclear explanation. A revision may solve the gap without creating competing pages.
- Choose one topic that fits your publication’s expertise.
- Match each promising query to an existing article.
- Read the cited primary evidence before changing the answer.
- Reject branded queries you cannot usefully address.
- Record the reporting window and the change you made.
- Review citations and actual reader outcomes after the revision.
Use a fixed window for the first review
For a proposed trial, save one month of topic results before editing. Keep a short record of the affected URL, reader question, and factual change. Recheck with the same window length. Changes in citations alone cannot establish that your edit caused the movement.
For example, a pricing query may need a corrected effective date on a comparison you already maintain. A topic with large citation volume may still be irrelevant to your readers. Editorial fit should decide which opportunity receives your time.
Our AI-content publishing checklist covers reader value before release. The SynthID verification guide shows why different evidence checks answer different questions.
Start with one answer you can improve
Sign in to Bing Webmaster Tools and look for Topics Portfolio under AI Performance. Treat the beta as a source of questions to investigate. Which existing page could you make more useful before opening a new draft?
Feature details checked October 13, 2026. This is a planning guide; we have not tested the beta inside a site account.
