Most professionals are spending a lot of time thinking about how to use AI. They’re asking which tools they should learn, how to write better prompts and how AI may change the way they work. Those are all valid questions, but there’s another one that deserves just as much attention: what does AI know about you?

That question matters more than many people realize. Every day, people are using AI tools to research companies, identify experts, learn about industries, prepare for meetings and evaluate potential service providers. They’re asking tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and Perplexity for recommendations, summaries and background information before deciding who to contact, hire, follow or invite into a conversation.

The information AI finds about you can influence the answers it gives. If there’s very little information available about your expertise, your work, your perspective or your accomplishments, AI has limited context. If you’ve spent time building your online presence, publishing content and documenting your experience, there’s a stronger foundation for AI to understand who you are and what you know.

This is one reason LinkedIn has become so important. Your LinkedIn profile, bio, posts, articles, comments, recommendations and newsletters all contribute to your professional digital footprint. They help create a record of your expertise that can be found, interpreted and connected to the topics you want to be known for.

If your LinkedIn profile hasn’t been updated in years, if your About section is generic or if you rarely share insights related to your work, there may not be enough information available to accurately reflect your expertise. That can create a gap between who you are professionally and how you appear when someone researches you.

On the other hand, when you consistently share useful content, publish thoughtful articles, comment on relevant posts, collect recommendations and keep your profile current, you create a much clearer picture of your professional identity. You make it easier for people to understand your experience. You also make it easier for AI tools to connect your name with the subjects, industries and services that define your work.

For years, I’ve encouraged professionals to invest in their visibility. AI has made that advice even more relevant. Visibility today extends beyond being active on LinkedIn or showing up in Google results. Your online presence now helps shape how AI understands and describes you.

That can feel intimidating at first, but I actually find it empowering. You have more influence over this than you may think. You can update your profile. You can write about the topics you want to be known for. You can publish articles that demonstrate your expertise. You can ask for LinkedIn recommendations. You can speak at events, appear on podcasts and contribute to industry conversations. Each of these actions adds more context to your professional story.

Start by auditing what already exists. Ask ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot or Perplexity what it knows about you. Ask what you’re known for. Ask which topics it associates with your name. Ask who your competitors are. Ask what information appears to be missing. Don’t treat every answer as absolute truth, but pay close attention to the patterns.

Then look at your LinkedIn profile with fresh eyes. Does your headline reflect what you do today? Does your About section explain your expertise in a clear and human way? Do your posts and articles support the reputation you’re trying to build? Do your recommendations reinforce the qualities you want people to associate with you? Are there outdated roles, old bios or stale descriptions that may still be shaping how you appear online?

Once you identify the gaps, start closing them. Choose a few core topics you want to be known for and create content around them consistently. Share practical insights from your work. Write articles that answer common questions. Comment thoughtfully on posts in your industry. Add speaking engagements, media mentions and articles to your profile. Ask clients, colleagues or former managers for recommendations that speak to your expertise and working style.

None of this has to happen all at once. Small steps, taken consistently, can make a meaningful difference over time. The key is to stop treating your online presence as something you update only when you’re looking for a job or announcing a promotion. Your digital footprint is now part of how people evaluate your credibility and expertise.

If someone asked AI who you are and what you’re known for, what answer would it give today? If the answer doesn’t reflect where you are now or where you want to go, that’s your signal to take action.

You have more control over your professional visibility than you may realize. The work you do online today can help shape how clients, employers, referral sources, journalists, conference organizers and AI tools understand your expertise tomorrow.

Key Takeaways

  • Ask AI tools what they know about you and review the answers carefully.
  • Update your LinkedIn profile so it reflects your current expertise and professional direction.
  • Create content around the topics you want to be known for.
  • Publish articles that give people a deeper understanding of your perspective.
  • Use comments, recommendations and newsletters to strengthen your digital footprint.
  • Add speaking engagements, media mentions and other credibility markers to your profile.
  • Review your online presence regularly so it keeps pace with your career.

For more on AI and your visibility, check out these other articles:

Seven Ways to Improve Your AI Search Results
Why LinkedIn Is Becoming Increasingly Important for AI Search Visibility
What AI Knows About You and Why It Matters More Than Ever
The AI Prompt I Use When I Need Better LinkedIn Content Ideas

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