What is an AI first impression? (Scan explained)

The Scan is a first-impression check. It asks three major AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google) how they describe a person or entity, and delivers a short report. No web retrieval, no intervention—just a snapshot of what’s in the model’s "first response." That first response is what most people see when they look you up: it’s the default answer before any follow-up or refinement.

Understanding what an "AI first impression" means helps you interpret the report and decide whether you need to go deeper. This article explains what the Scan measures, what you get, and when it’s enough—or when a full diagnostic makes sense.

What you get

You get a PDF showing the raw answers to a set of simple queries. You see whether the entity is clearly recognized, partially recognized, or unclear. You also see early signs of ambiguity or name collision.

The queries are designed to mirror how people actually ask: "Who is [name]?", "What is [entity] known for?" We don’t prime the model or use retrieval for the Scan; we capture the direct answer. That gives you a comparable first impression across all three providers. Side-by-side, you can see if one model has you right and another doesn’t, or if the problem is consistent.

When a Scan is enough

If the Scan shows clear, consistent recognition, you may not need more. You’ll have documented evidence of how you’re represented today, and you can re-run a Scan later if you want to check again.

If it shows confusion, mixed identities, or silence, a full Snapshot can diagnose why—retrieval behavior, web context, and entity resolution. The Snapshot goes deeper into how each system resolves the entity, what sources it uses, and whether improvement is plausible. Not everyone needs that level of detail; the Scan helps you decide.

How to get one

You submit the entity name and your email, pay once, and receive the report by email. No subscription. The Scan is $19 and is the recommended starting point for most people.

The process takes a few minutes. You’ll get the PDF within the timeframe indicated at order (usually same day for standard requests). From there you can share it internally, use it in board or investor discussions, or simply keep it as a baseline for future comparison.