When it comes to AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, my experience shows that many brands excelling in local Google searches struggle to be visible. SOCi’s 2026 local visibility index highlights this gap, revealing that AI recommends a meager 1% to 11% of locations.
Interestingly, business profile accuracy varies significantly across platforms. While Gemini maintains 100% accuracy, ChatGPT and Perplexity lag behind at 68%.
AI limits local visibility. Examining data from almost 350,000 locations tied to 2,751 multi-location brands, it’s clear that AI platforms are incredibly selective compared to Google’s local outcomes:
Only 1.2% of locations get the nod from ChatGPT, 11% from Gemini, and 7.4% from Perplexity. In contrast, Google’s local 3-pack features brands 35.9% of the time, indicating that securing AI visibility is three to 30 times more challenging.
AI and Google visibility differ. Across different sectors, less than half of brands topping Google’s local visibility are also among the elite in AI search outcomes.
For instance, in retail, only 45% of the top 20 brands in local search visibility made it to the top in AI recommendations.
Why I care. Just because my brand does well on Google doesn’t mean it will shine in AI-driven results. It’s crucial to ensure that my brand’s information is consistent across all platforms AI systems draw from, such as Google Maps, Yelp, and Facebook. Strong, accurate data and a clear, positive presence are now fundamental.
AI favors higher-rated businesses. AI consistently promotes businesses with high customer sentiment, treating reviews more like a filter than a ranking tool.
For instance, ChatGPT recommends locations averaging 4.3 stars, whereas ratings on Gemini and Perplexity are slightly lower. Unlike traditional methods that prioritize proximity, AI platforms look for confidence.
Impact varies by industry. Different sectors experience varying levels of AI visibility:
Retail: A limited number of retail giants like Sam’s Club lead, while others like Target fall short. This gap illustrates AI’s focus on reliable signals across platforms.
Restaurants: Culver’s excels with up to 45.8% recommendation rates, driven by strong ratings and accurate profiles, highlighting how essential these elements have become.
Financial services: Liberty Tax improved its AI visibility by boosting data accuracy and ratings, achieving impressive figures compared to competitors lacking in these areas.
Failing to maintain top-notch fundamentals now means disappearing from AI recommendations altogether. SOCi observes this as a critical shift.
The report. For more detailed insights, I can check out the 2026 Local Visibility Index (registration required).
Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
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