Key Concepts
Essential concepts to understand AIDP.
AIDP Ecosystem
How it works:
Businesses publish structured data to AIDP Platform
AI Assistants access data via MCP servers
Consumers discover businesses through AI conversations
Platform tracks upstream metrics and provides analytics
Core Concepts
Business Profile
A structured representation of a local business optimized for AI understanding.
Includes:
Basic information (name, category, description)
Location and service area
Services and pricing
Availability and hours
Media (photos, videos)
AI-exclusive content
Trust signals (verification, reviews)
AI-Exclusive Content
Content specifically designed for AI platforms that isn't available elsewhere.
Examples:
Insider Tips: "Ask for the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe - not on menu"
Local Secrets: "We source beans directly from Colombian farmers"
Behind the Scenes: "We roast every Tuesday morning"
Sustainability: "100% compostable packaging"
Why it matters: Helps businesses differentiate and provides value to AI users.
Analytics & Metrics
Analytics that track AI visibility and complement traditional metrics.
Traditional Analytics: Start at the click AIDP Analytics: Track citations, API calls, and click-throughs
What we can measure:
Citations: When AI platforms quote or reference your business
API Calls: When AI platforms access your profile data
Click-Throughs: When citations lead to website visits
MCP Tool Invocations: When AI platforms use MCP tools to access your data
Note: True "impressions" (mentions in AI responses) require cooperation from AI platforms. We track what we can measure - see analytics capabilities for details.
Intent Journey
The conversational path from first mention to conversion.
Example Journey:
Tracked data:
Initial query
Refinements
Citation moments
Time to conversion
Touchpoints
MCP (Model Context Protocol)
An open standard for connecting AI assistants with external data sources.
Think of it as: "USB-C for AI"
How it works:
Business exposes data via MCP server
AI platform connects to MCP server
AI can query business data in real-time
Structured responses enable actions (booking, etc.)
AIDP Schema
The open standard defining how business data should be structured for AI platforms.
Components:
Entity schemas (Business, Booking, Review, etc.)
MCP tool catalog
Validation rules
Migration guides
Governance: Community-driven with Steering Committee
Technical Concepts
Protocol-Agnostic
AIDP works with any AI protocol, not just MCP.
Supported protocols:
Model Context Protocol (MCP)
ChatGPT Plugin API
REST APIs
GraphQL
Custom protocols
Benefit: Future-proof as AI protocols evolve
Business-Controlled Data
Unlike platform-locked data, businesses own their AIDP data.
Characteristics:
Portable across platforms
No vendor lock-in
Direct relationships with AI platforms
Export anytime
Verification Levels
Trust signals indicating business legitimacy.
Levels:
Basic: Email verified
Certified: Business documents verified
Elite: Enhanced verification + track record
Benefits: Higher visibility, trust signals, priority in results
Free Forever Model
AIDP is completely free during beta with all features unlocked.
Everything Included:
Full business profile with AI-exclusive content
Complete analytics suite (upstream metrics, intent journeys)
Unlimited API access
All MCP tools and integrations
Community support
No Limitations:
No credit card required
No trial period
No feature restrictions
No hidden costs
User Roles
Business Owner
Creates and manages business profiles.
Can:
Create/update profile
Add services and pricing
Manage bookings
View analytics
Respond to reviews
Consumer
Discovers businesses through AI assistants.
Can:
Search businesses
View profiles
Make bookings
Submit reviews
Access exclusive content
Developer
Builds on AIDP Schema or integrates with platform.
Can:
Use AIDP API
Implement MCP servers
Create integrations
Contribute to schema
AI Platform
Integrates AIDP for business discovery.
Can:
Connect via MCP
Query business data
Enable bookings
Track analytics
Workflow Concepts
Onboarding
Process of setting up a business profile.
Steps:
Create account
Basic information
Services and pricing
AI-exclusive content
Media upload
Review and publish
Time: ~30 minutes
Booking Flow
Process of making a reservation.
Steps:
Check availability
Select time slot
Provide customer info
Confirm booking
Receive confirmation
Integration: Native via MCP or API
Review Workflow
Process of submitting and managing reviews.
Steps:
Consumer submits review
Moderation (if needed)
Review published
Business can respond
Aggregated in ratings
Glossary
AIDP: AI Discovery Platform MCP: Model Context Protocol Upstream Metrics: Pre-click visibility tracking Intent Journey: Conversational path to conversion Zero-Click: Impression without click Citation: AI quoting/referencing business Boost Signals: Keywords for AI ranking Exclusive Content: AI-only business information
Next Steps
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