The article challenges popular beliefs about content length and its impact on AI citations. It points out that a study claiming 10,000+ words are necessary for AI citation is based on a narrow sample of just 20 brands. In contrast, a larger analysis of 174,000 pages shows almost no correlation between word length and AI citations. The average cited content is 1,282 words, slightly above the Google ranking average of 1,188 words. Notably, 53.4% of cited pages are under 1,000 words, and only 16% exceed 2,000 words. The findings indicate that both short and long content can perform equally well in AI Overviews. The correlation between word count and citation position is negligible (0.04). When examining citation distribution, over 95% of short content (under 1,000 words) ranks in the top three positions, demonstrating that shorter pieces can compete effectively against longer ones. The median word count varies by content type, with transactional and utility content averaging between 300 to 550 words, meaning businesses don’t need extensive content to be included in AI responses. The article emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity. Key strategies include answering queries directly, prioritizing clarity and structure, and writing for human readers first. Length should be dictated by the topic and format rather than arbitrary targets. The takeaway is clear: focus on delivering valuable content that meets user intent, regardless of word count.