Google Maps Rankings Offer Little Advantage in AI Search Recommendations, Study Finds

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A new report by SOCi, analyzing over 350,000 locations across 2,751 multi-location brands, finds that strong Google Maps rankings do not translate into recommendations by AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. Google's local 3-pack surfaced 35.9% of studied locations, while ChatGPT recommended just 1.2%, Gemini 11%, and Perplexity 7.4%. The gap exists because AI systems rely on broader signals such as cross-source trust, entity recognition, and third-party citations, not just a well-maintained Google Business Profile. Businesses with strong Maps presence may still be overlooked by AI tools if their information is inconsistent across directories and review platforms. The findings suggest local marketers must now treat Maps optimization and AI visibility as separate, parallel strategies rather than assuming one covers both.

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