Large language models such as ChatGPT generate answers to prompts by querying massive, publicly available training data. The queries address the initial prompt plus additional info likely relevant to users’ needs and then consolidate the findings into a single, comprehensive response.
The additional queries extend beyond the literal text of the prompt. Hence Google coined the term “fan-out queries” earlier this year to describe the tactic.
Knowing the fan-out queries associated with an initial prompt helps publishers understand the platform’s interpretations and priorities.
Two new tools reveal those queries in ChatGPT. These tools work only for ChatGPT’s web searches and only in Google Chrome.
The SEO Pub
The SEO Pub is a newsletter and community from Mike Friedman, a search engine optimizer and owner of Clicked Consulting. His “ChatGPT Search Reasoning and Query Extractor” is a free Chrome bookmarklet to access the platform’s fan-out web queries and reasoning when compiling an answer.
For example, for a prompt of “best headphones for running,” ChatGPT’s fan-out searches, per the bookmarklet, were:
- “Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review running 2025”
- “Beats Fit Pro 2025 review running”
- “Jabra Elite 8 Active review sweatproof”
- “Soundcore Sport X20 earbuds review”
- “Bose Ultra Open Earbuds running review”
- “best running headphones 2025 Runner’s World”
- “AirPods Pro USB-C 2nd gen running sweat test review”
- “Sony LinkBuds S running comfort review 2024”
- “JLab Go Air Sport review running 2024.”
And ChatGPT’s reasoning was enlightening, especially for content marketers and product developers:
The user is asking for a comparison of the best headphones for running. This likely means recommending models with features like a secure fit, being sweatproof, and having a transparency mode. I’ll need to gather the latest info for 2025 models. It’s not location-specific, but it feels like a shopping query, so I should focus on up-to-date reviews and comparison of features, pricing, and performance. I’ll browse for the most current models to include in the recommendation.
The bookmarklet enables users to view and export the searches and reasoning on an easy-to-read page.
Users can view and export ChatGPT’s fan-out searches and reasoning. Click image to enlarge.
To install the bookmarklet,
- Create a new bookmark in Chrome.
- Assign a name such as “ChatGPT Extractor” or similar
- Replace the URL field with the code on the SEO Pub page
- Go to ChatGPT and perform a search that triggers a web search
- Once you have results, click the bookmarklet. It will open a new tab showing ChatGPT’s searches and reasoning.
Fan-out Helper
Another free tool, a Chrome extension called “ChatGPT Search Fan-out Helper,” saves ChatGPT’s fan-out queries and sources, providing the URLs, titles, and descriptions.
