GuideRunner survey reveals AI search impact uncertainty among Japanese SMEs

A survey conducted by GuideRunner Co., Ltd. involving 250 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners in Japan highlights a significant gap in understanding how AI search engines, such as ChatGPT and Google AI Overview, affect website traffic.

While 18.8% of respondents reported a decrease in website access due to AI search, 62% of those affected have already implemented countermeasures. In contrast, 34% of all surveyed companies—the largest single group—reported being unsure of the impact on their traffic. Within this uncertain group, 46% have taken no action, and 32% are unfamiliar with terms such as AIO (AI Optimization) or LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization).

GuideRunner CEO Takuji Noda noted that companies feeling a sense of crisis are more likely to be proactive, whereas the primary challenge lies with businesses that do not yet recognize the shift in how their digital presence is being perceived by AI.