AI Search vs. Local Search: What Actually Matters for Multi-Location Businesses in 2026
Local marketing feels like it’s moving faster than ever, and now includes an imperative to appear in results in ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and AI Mode - and meanwhile, Google Maps still seems to run the show. If you’re a business operator trying to figure out where to focus, it can feel like you’re standing between two different worlds.
The truth is:
Local search has stayed surprisingly stable. AI has changed everything around it, but not the core of how people find businesses nearby.
While informational search traffic fell off a cliff when AI started answering questions directly, local intent searches (“plumber near me,” “senior living in Calgary,” “auto glass repair open now”) continue to flow through Google Maps because it’s simply a better experience than any LLM can offer.
But that doesn’t mean nothing has changed.
AI Has Introduced a New Layer: GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
Generative engines like ChatGPT and Gemini now surface business recommendations inside their own answers.
This means your business may appear in:
Google’s AI Overviews
ChatGPT Browsing answers
Gemini’s local summaries
And those systems rely heavily on structured data, citations, directory accuracy, and semantic clarity — the same things BeLocal has been optimizing for the past decade.
Local search still matters — but AI is now its multiplier
Here’s the simplest way to think about it:
Local SEO = how you rank in Google Maps
GEO = how AI models understand your business and include you in their answers
If you want to win in 2026, you need both.
Where to Focus
For most multi-location businesses, the winning formula this year is:
A complete Google Business Profile (hours, categories, services, photos, descriptions)
Accurate, consistent directory data (citations are now AI fuel)
A mix of reviews beyond just Google
SEO-friendly website pages that answer real customer questions
Mentions on authoritative “best of” lists and industry directories
Generative engines pull from all these sources to form their recommendations.
Bottom Line
AI didn’t replace local search. It layered on top of it. BeLocal’s combined approach (NAP consistency, AI-ready listings, and Mobilosoft’s active management) positions your brand to win in both worlds.