Overview
Inline diagrams are an input. AI citation is an output. The comparison is really about the chain — inline diagrams help drive AI citation, but they're one of several factors. Worth understanding the relationship so you don't expect a 1:1 lift.
What inline diagrams contribute to citation
AI surfaces (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews) evaluate pages on multiple dimensions when deciding what to cite. Inline diagrams contribute to several: structured content (the diagram itself is parseable), visual differentiation (pages with diagrams stand out among text-only competitors), schema completeness (ImageObject schema adds another structured-data type), and dwell-time signals (users spend longer on pages with rich visuals, which crawlers indirectly notice).
But inline diagrams alone won't earn citation. You also need: strong author signal (named human authorship), topic depth (comprehensive coverage, not thin pages), schema breadth (Article + FAQPage + BreadcrumbList minimum), cross-linking (a connected site graph), and freshness (recent updates, not stale 2019 content).
The realistic lift
For an established site that already has the other citation prerequisites, adding inline diagrams to your top content pieces typically lifts AI citation rate noticeably within 60-90 days. The lift is bigger on visual topics (architecture, processes, comparisons) than on purely textual ones (definitions, etymology).
For a new site with no prior citation history, inline diagrams are part of the foundation work but won't produce visible citations until the broader citation prerequisites (author signal, content depth, link graph) also mature. Plan on 6-12 months for measurable citation on a new domain regardless of how good your diagrams are.