LLMs.txt files have been discovered on several sites belonging to Google, sparking numerous speculations in the SEO community. These files, generally used to facilitate the discovery and indexing of content by AI language models, seemed to indicate a new Google strategy.

According to official clarifications from John Mueller, these files were not added intentionally as part of a strategic approach. They would have appeared following a global content management system (CMS) change, sometimes even without the knowledge of the site managers concerned.

An important detail: these files are not placed at the root of the sites, which makes them difficult to discover by standard indexing robots. Mueller suggests they might have other functions, without specifying which ones, but explicitly excludes their role in discovery by LLMs.

• The LLMs.txt files found on Google sites are not intentional
• They result from a technical CMS migration
• They are not at the root and therefore not easily discoverable
• Their presence has no connection with AI indexing
• Some have already been removed since their discovery

This statement reveals the complexity of technical infrastructures even at Google. The fact that a global CMS change can generate unwanted files, sometimes without the teams' knowledge, shows that technical migrations always involve unforeseen side effects.

The most interesting aspect concerns the positioning on LLMs.txt files. By clearly stating that these files do not serve AI discovery, Google sends a signal: adoption of this standard remains optional and does not constitute a ranking factor. The placement outside the root confirms they have no active SEO function.

We can also see a certain transparency from Google which, rather than leaving doubt, prefers to clarify that it is a minor technical incident. This recalls the importance of post-migration auditing to detect unwanted elements.

• Don't rush to add LLMs.txt files to your sites - it is not a confirmed ranking factor
• If you already have LLMs.txt files, make sure they are placed at the root and properly configured
• Audit your CMS migrations to detect any unwanted files or elements generated automatically
• Check technical files (robots.txt, sitemap.xml, etc.) after each infrastructure change
• Document all changes during technical migrations to avoid surprises
• Prioritize established standards (schema.org, structured data) rather than unvalidated emerging formats
• Monitor official communications before adopting new technical practices
• Test your production environment regularly to identify involuntarily added elements

CMS migrations and technical optimizations require in-depth expertise to avoid undesirable effects on your search engine rankings. Between pre-migration auditing, post-deployment configuration, and continuous performance monitoring, these projects require particular attention and specialized skills. To guarantee a transition without negative impact on your visibility, support from an experienced SEO agency can prove decisive, particularly to anticipate technical risks and implement best practices from the planning phase.