Does Google read llms.txt?
Google's generative-AI optimisation guide says Google Search does not use llms.txt files; they neither help nor harm your visibility in Google, AI Overviews or AI Mode. Some other AI crawlers read them, so an llms.txt is a small courtesy to those systems, not an SEO or Google AI lever.
What Google actually says
In its guide to optimising for generative AI, Google lists llms.txt among the things you can ignore, alongside AI-specific markup, content chunking and writing in a special style for AI. The things it says do work are the same as for Search: be indexable, be snippet-eligible, write helpful content with clear headings, and do not block Googlebot.
What still governs AI Overviews
Googlebot, not Google-Extended, controls whether your pages can appear in AI Overviews and AI Mode. Google-Extended only controls Gemini model training. A nosnippet directive removes you from AI answers; robots.txt blocking Googlebot removes you from everything.
Frequently asked
No need. It is harmless for Google and useful to the AI crawlers that read it. Just do not expect Google visibility from it.
Be indexed, be eligible for a snippet (no nosnippet or max-snippet:0), follow normal SEO practice, and let Googlebot in. Google says there are no additional requirements.
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