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Local AI Study, AI Mode Onramp, G-Queries Down, Squandered Tech Trust

Greg Sterling

Local AI Study, AI Mode Onramp, G-Queries Down, Squandered Tech Trust

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Report: It's 30x Harder to Show Up in Local AI

SOCi's Local Visibility Index is now in its seventh year and has become increasingly sophisticated over time. The report was created to benchmark and rank franchises and multi-location brands. The 2026 report audits more than 2.7k companies with 50 or more locations (350k individual locations) in five verticals and 42 subcategories. It looks at digital presence on multiple platforms (Google/GBP + Maps, Yelp, Facebook, brand websites and landing pages) and, this year, AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity). SOCi ran thousands of queries (category, location) and evaluated 120 metrics that all contribute to visibility. Each brand received a composite score between 0 and 100. Here are a few of the study's notable findings. A ChatGPT "local recommendation" is 30x harder to achieve than ranking in the Local Pack. There's a less than 50% overlap in the top 20 sites for traditional search and AI. Just as others have, SOCi also found considerable local data inaccuracy in AI. However, Gemini was much more accurate (for local) than ChatGPT and Perplexity. AI visibility was easier to achieve in less competitive verticals where fewer best practices were observed. Reviews are particularly important for AI visibility, which includes diversification, star ratings, volume, freshness and response rates. The most common sources for local AI results were Google Maps, niche/vertical sites, brand websites, Yelp and Facebook (below). The study produced lists of visibility/rankings by industry as well as a massive overall list. The top 10 were 1) Planet Fitness, 2) Public Storage, 3) Hobby Lobby, 4) LongHorn Steakhouse, 5) Mattress Firm, 6) European Wax Center, 7) FASTSIGNS, 8) America’s Tire, 9) O’Reilly Auto Parts, and 10) Culver’s.

Top Local Sources Used by AI Platforms
Source: SOCi LVI 2026

Our take:

  • The recommendations in the report are broadly consistent with much of the expanded local SEO best practices advice being developed for AI.
  • Big picture: "manage accuracy, reputation, content, and engagement as an integrated system" rather than as silos.
  • Perhaps the most unexpected finding is that ranking in traditional local search does not necessarily translate into AI visibility.