Research · asked 25 September 2026
Ask three AIs for the best plumber in your town. You'll get three different answers.
We asked ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Mode the question customers now ask: “Who is the best plumber, dentist or accountant in my town?” Across 50 UK towns, they agreed on 1 business in 15.
of businesses were named by all three AIs
searches had the same #1 on every AI
of Gemini's picks also appear in Google AI Mode, Google's other AI
businesses named per answer by Google AI Mode, against 15.1 by ChatGPT
Look up your town
A green tag means all three AIs named that business; amber means two did.
“Who is the best plumber in Manchester?” Each AI's first picks, in its own order.
- 1.JB7 Plumbing and Heating Limited2 of 3
- 2.Zodiac Plumbing & Heating
- 3.MCR Heating and Plumbing ltd
- 4.24/7 Rapid Fix Plumbing Limited
- 5.Emergency Plumbing Manchesters
- 6.24HR PLUMBER MANCHESTER
- 1.JB7 Plumbing and Heating Limited2 of 3
- 1.A Mellor Plumbing & Heating Services
- 2.Dyno-Rod Plumbing Manchester
Each AI keeps a different-sized list
ChatGPT names a long list. Google's AIs name a handful, so getting onto their shortlist is much harder.
Agreement by trade
Share of businesses named by all three AIs. Dentists are the most consistent; plumbers are close to random.
Where AI sends people instead
ChatGPT pointed people to a directory or review site in 95% of its answers. These were named most often, by number of answers:
What it means if you run a local business
- Being first on Google is no longer the whole story. Each AI builds its own shortlist, and most customers only see one of them.
- Get listed where the AIs read. Directories such as Checkatrade, ThreeBestRated, Care Quality Commission keep coming up as sources.
- Keep your details identical everywhere. The same name, address and phone number on your site, Google profile and directories make you easier to match.
- Check each AI separately. Being recommended by one tells you almost nothing about the other two.
Which AI recommends your business?
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Check my businessHow we did it
On 25 September 2026 we asked “Who is the best [trade] in [town]?” for plumbers, dentists and accountants in 50 UK towns: 450 questions in total, 449 of which returned an answer. We read the answers people see in the ChatGPT and Gemini apps and in Google AI Mode, asked from the UK in English. Business names were pulled out of each answer and matched across the three AIs allowing for small differences in how names are written.
Limits: AI answers change from day to day and with the wording of a question, so treat this as a snapshot. We did not judge whether any business is good; the lists are what each AI said.
Questions
Do ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Mode recommend the same local businesses?+
Rarely. Across 149 searches in 50 UK towns, only 7% of the businesses named were named by all three, and all three put the same business first in 21 of 149 searches.
Where do AI assistants get local recommendations from?+
Mostly from review sites and directories. ChatGPT pointed people to a directory in 95% of its answers, most often Checkatrade, ThreeBestRated, Care Quality Commission. Google's AIs lean on Google Maps and Google reviews.
How can my business get recommended by AI?+
Be listed and reviewed on the directories the AIs read, keep your business name, address and phone identical everywhere, collect recent Google reviews, and make your website say plainly what you do and where. Then check what each AI actually says about you, because they differ.