How AI answer engines name Kubernetes
Data through October 27, 2026
Across 1,376 answers ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Google's AI surfaces gave to buyer questions about AI Infrastructure between May 10, 2026 and October 27, 2026, Kubernetes was named in 231 (16.8%).
Last 28 days: named in 120 of 2,415 answers in its home categories (5.0%), up 1.5 points from the 28 days before.
By engine
Answers each engine gave to buyer questions in the 8 categories where Kubernetes was named at least 3 times, and how many of them named Kubernetes.
| Engine | Named | Answers | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 67 | 2,268 | 3.0% |
| Claude | 75 | 2,308 | 3.2% |
| Gemini | 161 | 2,225 | 7.2% |
| Perplexity | 83 | 2,284 | 3.6% |
| Google AI Mode | 46 | 495 | 9.3% |
| Google AI Overviews | 20 | 175 | 11.4% |
By question type
The same answers, split by the shape of the buyer question.
| Question type | Named | Answers | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best-of | 47 | 1,274 | 3.7% |
| Ranked list | 135 | 1,303 | 10.4% |
| Head-to-head | 7 | 1,258 | 0.6% |
| Is it worth it | 26 | 1,310 | 2.0% |
| How to choose | 28 | 1,344 | 2.1% |
| Problem first | 34 | 1,293 | 2.6% |
| News | 175 | 1,973 | 8.9% |
Week by week
Kubernetes was named in at least one answer in 20 of the 26 weeks on record; the latest was the week of October 19, 2026.
Each week's answers to buyer questions in the 8 categories where Kubernetes was named at least 3 times, Monday to Sunday, newest first, and how many of them named Kubernetes. The questions asked can differ from one week to the next.
| Week of | Named | Answers | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 118 | 0.0% | |
| 21 | 967 | 2.2% | |
| 39 | 953 | 4.1% | |
| 38 | 1,021 | 3.7% | |
| 33 | 986 | 3.3% | |
| 33 | 568 | 5.8% | |
| 1 | 184 | 0.5% | |
| 0 | 36 | 0.0% | |
| 0 | 136 | 0.0% | |
| 0 | 188 | 0.0% | |
| 1 | 350 | 0.3% | |
| 4 | 427 | 0.9% | |
| 3 | 156 | 1.9% | |
| 0 | 204 | 0.0% | |
| 32 | 348 | 9.2% | |
| 38 | 476 | 8.0% | |
| 34 | 664 | 5.1% | |
| 16 | 180 | 8.9% | |
| 10 | 163 | 6.1% | |
| 23 | 212 | 10.8% | |
| 17 | 193 | 8.8% | |
| 10 | 129 | 7.8% | |
| 44 | 448 | 9.8% | |
| 36 | 444 | 8.1% | |
| 19 | 192 | 9.9% | |
| 0 | 12 | 0.0% |
Named first
When an answer named Kubernetes alongside another brand in this record, it was named first in 103 of 323 (31.9%).
Named alongside
Sources the engines cited when they named Kubernetes
Domains cited in answers that named Kubernetes, by the number of those answers that cited them.
| Domain | Answers |
|---|---|
| medium.com | 77 |
| youtube.com | 74 |
| spheron.network | 53 |
| reddit.com | 45 |
| nvidia.com | 41 |
| linkedin.com | 36 |
| redhat.com | 34 |
| arxiv.org | 30 |
| github.com | 29 |
| northflank.com | 29 |
Kubernetes's own site (kubernetes.io) was cited in 3 of 456 (0.7%).
Across every answer run in the Machine Relations Index, not only the answers that named Kubernetes, kubernetes.io was cited in 4 of 32,187 (0.01%), by 3 of the 6 engines it observes. The Index is still collecting evidence on kubernetes.io before it grades or ranks it.
Across every AI Infrastructure buyer question, not only the answers that named Kubernetes, the Machine Relations Index ranks which sources AI engines cite for AI Infrastructure questions.
All categories
| Category | Named | Answers | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Infrastructure | 231 | 1,376 | 16.8% |
| Infrastructure & Dev Tools | 131 | 489 | 26.8% |
| Cybersecurity | 33 | 1,833 | 1.8% |
| Enterprise AI | 33 | 501 | 6.6% |
| AI Security & Privacy | 12 | 1,487 | 0.8% |
| Education & Training | 4 | 1,261 | 0.3% |
| Enterprise Software | 4 | 1,751 | 0.2% |
| iGaming & Betting | 4 | 1,057 | 0.4% |
| Emergent Prosumer | 2 | 1,228 | 0.2% |
| HR & Talent | 2 | 1,696 | 0.1% |
How this is measured
Names are matched case-sensitively from each brand's own homepage title, in answers stored by the Machine Relations Index. Only derived counts are published here; no answer text is.
A brand appears only once it has been named in at least 10 answers on 7 separate days.
A name match counts a mention. It does not count a recommendation, and it does not measure sentiment.
Categories are the Index's buyer-question categories.
Source: Machine Relations Index.
FAQ
Does ChatGPT recommend Kubernetes?
ChatGPT named Kubernetes in 67 of 2,268 answers (3.0%) to buyer questions in the 8 categories where Kubernetes was named at least 3 times between May 10, 2026 and October 27, 2026. This record counts a name, not a recommendation: it does not judge whether the answer endorsed Kubernetes.
Which sources do AI engines cite when they mention Kubernetes?
The domains cited most often in answers that named Kubernetes were medium.com (77 answers), youtube.com (74 answers) and spheron.network (53 answers).
Which AI engine names Kubernetes most often?
Google AI Overviews, at 11.4%: it named Kubernetes in 20 of 175 answers to buyer questions in the 8 categories where Kubernetes was named at least 3 times.