Limitations & caveats
Every measurement method has boundaries. The Magpire Index is a directional signal, not a definitive judgment. We document its known limitations below so firms, researchers, and partners can interpret the results responsibly.
Known limitations
Snapshot, not continuous monitoring
The Magpire Index reflects the firm's AI visibility at the time the audit was run. AI engine responses change as models are updated, training data shifts, and new sources are indexed. A score is a point-in-time measurement, not a permanent rating.
Four engines, not the full AI landscape
We test ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. Other AI systems (Microsoft Copilot, Grok, DeepSeek, specialised legal/medical AIs) are not included. A firm invisible to all four tested engines may still be cited by other AIs — though we consider that unlikely for accounting-firm buyer queries.
Prompt sensitivity
Different phrasings of the same buyer intent can produce different AI responses. Our prompt set is designed to cover the most common query patterns, but we cannot exhaust every possible formulation. Small wording changes may shift which firms an engine cites.
AI engines are black boxes
We observe outputs, not internal ranking logic. When an AI declines to cite a firm, we cannot determine whether the cause is absence from training data, a recency filter, a safety alignment decision, or a genuine lack of relevance. The Index reports what the engines do, not why.
Geographic and specialism coverage
Aggregated public statistics suppress any cell containing fewer than five firms. This means city-level or specialism-level breakdowns are not available for smaller markets until the dataset grows. An empty stat does not imply a score of zero — it means the data is insufficient to report.
No legal, financial, or professional advice
The Magpire Index is a visibility measurement tool. It does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Firms should consult their own advisors before making business decisions based on their Index score.
See how the Index applies to your firm
Run a free Magpire Audit and interpret your results with these caveats in mind — no credit card needed.
← Back to Methodology · Transparency & reproducibility
