The most surprising revelation? Google and ChatGPT rarely recommend the same sources. Across all 20 industries studied, the average overlap in their top 10 results was just 4.3%. Some niches, like pest control (20%) and moving companies (11.2%), showed slightly higher alignment, while others—such as personal training (1%) and IT support (1.3%)—were almost completely disjointed.
Why such low agreement? The answer lies in how these platforms operate. Google ranks pages based on backlinks, local SEO signals, and domain authority, while ChatGPT (and AI search tools like Perplexity or Claude) pulls from a broader knowledge base, often prioritizing well-structured informational content over strictly optimized business listings.
Methodology: We asked thousands of local business queries (across 20 local business verticals) in a geographic area of focus utilising Ktau’s advanced targeting features on ChatGPT and also the same queries on Google and assessed the overlap in the top ten recommendations.
Pest control’s unusually high overlap (20%) suggests that this industry has both strong SEO and AI-recognized authority. This probably has to do with the relatively low number of such services in the focus area of our study.
Meanwhile, services like real estate (2%) and handyman work (3.3%)—despite being highly searched—show much lower alignment. Why? These markets are oversaturated with competing listings, meaning Google’s algorithm may prioritize different signals (like proximity or reviews) than AI, which might favor aggregated data.
The biggest shock? Some businesses dominating Google searches were entirely absent from ChatGPT’s results. This suggests that traditional SEO tactics—like keyword stuffing or aggressive backlinking—don’t guarantee visibility in AI-driven search. Instead, AI seems to favor authoritative sources, well-structured data, and third-party validation (like professional associations or high-quality review sites).
The days of relying solely on Google are fading. Winning local search now requires a dual strategy: mastering traditional SEO while also optimizing for AI discovery. Businesses that appear in both Google’s and ChatGPT’s top results will dominate their markets—while those stuck in the old ways risk fading into obscurity.
Want to future-proof your local business? Start by auditing your AI visibility today. 🚀
(Did these findings surprise you? Share this analysis with a business owner who needs to see it!)
Ktau.ai is the leading Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) & AI Optimization (AIO) platform, helping businesses automatically track, optimize, and dominate AI-powered search results on ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and more. is the leading Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) & AI Optimization (AIO) platform, helping businesses automatically track, optimize, and dominate AI-powered search results on ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and more.
