2 min read · Updated
How do ChatGPT and Google’s AI pick a local business?
The short answer
Nobody outside these companies knows the exact rules. We do know they pull facts from many sources: your Google profile, review sites, data providers and websites. Your best move is to make your facts complete, the same everywhere, and easy to read.
What are Google’s AI answers?
AI Overviews are the short summaries at the top of some Google results. One 2025 study found them on up to about two-thirds of the local searches it looked at — fewer on simple searches like “plumber near me”. Other trackers report far fewer.
When a summary shows, clicks drop sharply. A randomized experiment by Agarwal & Sen found about 40% fewer clicks, and Ahrefs saw a big drop too. So the facts that lead to a call — your phone, area and hours — should be easy to find on your profile and your site.
ChatGPT and Google don’t agree
ChatGPT and Google’s AI often suggest different businesses. So fixing just one place isn’t enough — your facts need to be right everywhere.
The answers also change each time you ask. One screenshot proves nothing, good or bad.
Where does ChatGPT look for local businesses?
ChatGPT’s local results draw on several data providers, including Foursquare and Yelp, plus web results. So check your Yelp and Foursquare listings, not just Google.
What does Google say to do?
Google’s 2026 guide says optimizing for AI search is ordinary SEO — the basics that help any page show up in search. You don’t need an llms.txt file, pages cut into small chunks for AI, text rewritten for AI, or mentions of your name planted around the web.
Structured data isn’t magic either, but Google still recommends it as normal SEO. It’s a basic way to state your hours, address and services clearly so machines don’t get them wrong.
Why this matters now
More people use AI to discover local businesses, but real reviews and clear facts still do the heavy lifting.
Do it yourself
- Write your business name, address, phone and hours once. Use that exact version everywhere.
- Check your Google Business Profile against it and fix any differences.
- Claim or fix your Yelp listing.
- Claim or fix your Foursquare listing.
- Ask ChatGPT: “Who is a good [your trade] in [your town]?” Write down what it says about you, right or wrong. Ask again another day — the answer will change.
- Make sure your website lists each service, your area and your hours as text, not only in pictures.
- Ask every customer for a review so they stay fresh.
Want us to do it?
Ready for Google & AI answers
We lay out your services, prices and areas so Google and AI assistants like ChatGPT can read them. No one can promise an AI will pick you. We make sure that when it mentions you, it has your details right.
$290 one-time, added to your website
Not sure what you need? The free check looks at how your business shows up online.
Sources
- Whitespark (2025): Case study: the prevalence of AI Overviews in local search. Found AI Overviews on up to about two-thirds of the local searches studied, and fewer on simple “near me” searches. Other trackers report far lower numbers.
- Digital Content Next (2026): The evidence is clear: AI search is costing publishers. Reports a randomized experiment by Agarwal & Sen that found about 40% fewer clicks when an AI summary is shown.
- Ahrefs (2025): AI Overviews reduce clicks (update)
- Search Engine Land: How does ChatGPT conduct local searches?
- Google Search Central (2026): AI optimization guide. Published May 15, 2026. Optimizing for AI search is ordinary SEO; llms.txt, chunking, AI rewrites and manufactured mentions aren’t needed; structured data isn’t magic.
Last checked . This guide is general information, not legal advice.