AI search recommendations show only 20% overlap with Google Maps top 20

A new study by SPOT-ONE reveals a significant disconnect between traditional local search rankings and generative AI recommendations. An analysis of 1,500 responses using OpenAI’s GPT-4 shows that only 20% of stores recommended by AI were also among the top 20 results on Google Maps.

Key findings indicate that 80% of AI-recommended stores fall outside the top 20 Google Maps rankings. While higher Google Maps placement correlates slightly with higher AI recommendation rates, the overlap remains low. Furthermore, 67% of the most frequently recommended stores by AI were not in the Google Maps top 20.

The research highlights the emergence of ‘Store AIO’ (AI Optimization), where businesses must adapt to how AI interprets data. Unlike traditional searches based on keywords like location and category, AI users often provide long, conversational queries regarding specific needs and experiences.

AI recommendations frequently cite ‘access/proximity’ and ‘facilities/atmosphere’ as primary reasons for selection. The study also found that AI heavily relies on official store websites (60.8%) and Google Maps (33.0%) as primary data sources, suggesting that detailed, experience-based customer reviews and official web content are critical for visibility in the AI era.