In 2026, ChatGPT Search, Perplexity and Gemini capture nearly 30% of local searches — a shift as deep as the arrival of mobile in 2010. When a user types "best sourdough bakery in the 6th arrondissement", it's no longer Google Maps that answers first: it's an AI writing a direct recommendation, citing 3 or 4 establishments.

If your business isn't named in that answer, you're invisible to that customer — even if you rank first on Google Maps. Here's what we've learned, after 18 months of observation, about how AIs decide who to cite.

1. AIs rely on structured, signed content

Unlike Google, which can rank a low-authority site if it contains the right keywords, AIs refuse to cite sources without trust signals. That means: a site with Schema.org LocalBusiness markup, verified reviews, a complete Google Business Profile, and mentions on quality directories.

If your site doesn't have Schema.org markup, add it now. ChatGPT and Perplexity actively scrape this markup because it lets them extract your hours, address and category without ambiguity.

2. Written reviews matter ten times more than ratings

An AI can't "see" that your average rating is 4.7 on Google — it can only read what customers have written. Detailed reviews containing keywords ("buttery croissants", "warm welcome", "vegan brunch") are the raw material AIs cite verbatim.

Encourage your customers to describe their experience rather than leave a one-line rating. A 50-word review is worth far more than "Top, 5 stars".

3. Content on third-party sites matters as much as your own

AIs cross-reference multiple sources before citing. A mention in a food guide, a review in Time Out, a sector blog post: all these independent signals strengthen your credibility in the AI's eyes. This is what's known as off-page authority.

Invest in local press relations and partnerships with bloggers in your sector. A single serious mention can get you into the AI's "citation pool" for your niche.

4. Content freshness: extremely important

Modern AIs (ChatGPT Search, Perplexity) prioritise recent sources. A 2024 article will be cited less than a 2026 article on the same topic. For a business, that means:

5. AIs love sites that answer specific questions

AIs look for sources that answer questions directly. If someone asks "does bakery X deliver?", the AI will look for a site that explicitly says so. Build an FAQ on your site with the questions customers actually ask: payment methods, peak hours, wheelchair access, vegan and gluten-free options, and so on.

6. How to know if you're being cited?

Ask the question yourself: "What are the best [your business type] in [your neighbourhood]?" on ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini. If you don't show up, now you know. Run the test once a month — it's the new "SEO tracking".

Voxtya now includes an AI monitoring feature that tells you each week whether you're being cited in the answers of the major AIs for your target queries. Request a demo to see it in action.