The way customers search is changing

From 6%
to 45%.

Customers aren’t only searching Google anymore. They’re asking AI where to eat, who to hire, where to go, and which local businesses they can trust.

ChatGPT Google Maps Gemini Claude Perplexity AI is becoming a real local discovery channel
Consumers using AI for local recommendations US · rising
6%2025
45%2026

A year ago, it was just 6%. Today, 45% of US consumers surveyed use AI tools for local business recommendations.

The question is no longer only: “Do I rank on Google?”

Do AI assistants recommend my business?