Sentiment Analysis: Quantifying Your Brand's Premium Perception by AI
AI sentiment measures how ChatGPT and Perplexity perceive your brand: premium or basic, innovative or outdated, reliable or risky. This score reflects source consensus and directly influences recommendations. A brand with good sentiment gets recommended; others are merely mentioned.
When ChatGPT talks about your brand, does it use words like "premium," "excellence," "reference"?
Or rather "basic," "alternative," "affordable"?
This difference is called sentiment. And it's measurable.
What is AI Sentiment?
Definition
AI sentiment is the overall perception that language models have of your brand. It's the synthesized opinion from all sources they've ingested.
How It Forms
AI doesn't really "think." It reflects source consensus:
AI Sentiment = f(Sources ingested × Authority × Consistency)
If your sources are:
- Consistent: All say "premium" → Premium sentiment
- Inconsistent: Some say "premium," others "accessible" → Fuzzy sentiment
- Negative: Dominant criticism → Negative sentiment
Why It's Crucial
Sentiment determines mention tone. A brand with good sentiment is:
- Cited with valorizing terms
- Recommended rather than just mentioned
- Positioned favorably vs competitors
Premium Sentiment Dimensions
1. Quality Perception
Positive indicators:
- "high quality," "excellence," "craftsmanship"
- "market reference," "high standards"
- "premium materials," "impeccable finishes"
Negative indicators:
- "variable quality," "questionable value"
- "good but not exceptional"
- "better quality alternatives exist"
2. Legitimacy Perception
Positive indicators:
- "since [year]," "heritage," "history"
- "recognized by experts," "award-winning"
- "market leader," "pioneer"
Negative indicators:
- "newcomer," "still proving itself"
- "less established than," "challenger"
- "recent reputation"
3. Value Perception
Positive indicators:
- "investment," "heritage value"
- "justifies its price," "excellent value"
- "quality justifying positioning"
Negative indicators:
- "expensive for what it is," "high prices"
- "cheaper alternatives available"
- "questionable premium"
4. Innovation Perception
Positive indicators:
- "innovative," "pioneer," "avant-garde"
- "cutting-edge technology," "R&D"
- "defines trends"
Negative indicators:
- "traditional," "conservative"
- "behind on," "caught up by"
- "limited innovation"
How to Measure Sentiment
Method 1: Manual Analysis
Ask AIs questions and analyze responses:
Test questions:
- "What do you think of [brand]?"
- "How would you position [brand] in its market?"
- "Is [brand] considered premium?"
- "What are [brand]'s strengths and weaknesses?"
Analysis grid:
| Dimension | Score 1-5 | Key verbatims |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | 4 | "high quality," "craftsmanship" |
| Legitimacy | 3 | "established," but "competed by" |
| Value | 2 | "high prices," "alternatives" |
| Innovation | 4 | "innovative," "R&D leader" |
Method 2: Systematic Analysis
Test on a large query sample and quantify:
Sentiment Score = (Positive mentions × 2 + Neutral × 1 - Negative × 2) / Total × 100
Example:
- 50 queries tested
- 30 positive mentions, 15 neutral, 5 negative
- Score = (30×2 + 15×1 - 5×2) / 50 = 65/100
Method 3: Automated Tool
Repliq automatically analyzes sentiment across hundreds of queries, categorizes verbatims, and produces a sentiment score comparable over time and vs competitors.
Reference Levels
| Score | Interpretation | Action |
|---|---|---|
| > 80 | Strong premium perception | Maintain |
| 60-80 | Positive perception | Strengthen |
| 40-60 | Neutral/mixed perception | Improve |
| < 40 | Problematic perception | Urgency |
Optimizing Sentiment
Step 1: Diagnose Sources
Identify what's "pulling down":
Sources to audit:
- Wikipedia (if existing)
- Major press articles
- Google/Trustpilot reviews
- Social profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter)
- Comparison sites and buying guides
- Your own site
Step 2: Correct Inconsistencies
If your site says "premium" but comparators say "mid-range," AI will be confused.
Actions:
- Align messaging across all controllable sources
- Contact third-party sources for factual corrections
- Enrich positive sources (more content = more weight)
Step 3: Amplify Positives
Mentions on authoritative sources carry more weight:
High-authority sources:
- Recognized sector media
- Professional publications
- Official awards and recognition
- Identified expert testimonials
Step 4: Track Evolution
Sentiment isn't static. Measure monthly:
Month 1: 55/100
Month 2: 58/100 (↑3 after site optimization)
Month 3: 62/100 (↑4 after press article)
Month 4: 68/100 (↑6 after Wikipedia update)
Concrete Case: Watch Brand
Initial Situation
Brand: Swiss watch manufacture, 150 years of history Problem: Mixed sentiment despite premium positioning
AI verbatim audit:
"Historic brand offering quality watches, although prices are high compared to some competitors offering similar specifications."
Diagnosis:
- Quality: recognized (positive)
- Price: perceived as high (negative)
- Differentiation: unclear (problematic)
Actions Taken
- Wikipedia enrichment: Added exclusive innovations and patents
- Press relations: Master watchmaker interviews on craftsmanship
- Website: Highlighted technical differentiators
- LinkedIn: Regular posts on heritage and unique pieces
Results at 4 Months
New AI verbatim:
"Exceptional watch manufacture, recognized for its centuries-old craftsmanship and patented innovations. An investment for discerning collectors."
Score evolution:
- Quality: 4 → 5
- Legitimacy: 3 → 5
- Value: 2 → 4 (from "expensive" to "investment")
- Innovation: 4 → 5
Sentiment and Competition
Competitive Benchmark
Your sentiment alone means nothing. Compare:
| Brand | Sentiment Score | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Competitor A | 78 | Perceived leader |
| You | 65 | Challenger |
| Competitor B | 52 | Follower |
| Competitor C | 45 | Distanced |
Gap Analysis
Identify what top scorers do differently:
- More authoritative sources?
- More consistent messaging?
- Clearer differentiators?
Mistakes to Avoid
Confusing Volume and Sentiment
Being heavily cited with poor sentiment is worse than rarely cited positively.
Ignoring "Secondary" Sources
AI doesn't always distinguish primary from secondary sources. A negative article on a small site can impact.
Neglecting Internal Consistency
If your site says "exclusive" but LinkedIn says "accessible to all," AI perceives the inconsistency.
Expecting Immediate Results
Sentiment evolves slowly. Models don't update instantly.
Conclusion
AI sentiment isn't a mystery. It's the measurable reflection of what your sources communicate.
For premium brands, good sentiment means:
- Being described with the right words
- Being recommended to the right prospects
- Being positioned correctly vs competitors
Optimizing it requires work on sources, consistency, and patience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do AIs form their opinion about a brand?
AIs synthesize information from multiple sources: your site, Wikipedia, press articles, reviews, LinkedIn, etc. Sentiment is the consensus of these sources, weighted by authority.
Can you improve your brand's AI sentiment?
Yes, by working on consistency of premium positioning across all sources AI consults, and getting positive mentions on high-authority sources.
What's the difference between positive sentiment and recommendation?
Positive sentiment doesn't guarantee recommendation. You can be perceived positively but not cited. Recommendation requires both good sentiment AND good visibility.
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