{ "schemaVersion": 1, "title": "AI Search Visibility: 100-Business Study (2026) | BoostGeo", "canonical": "https://www.boostgeo.com/research/business-representation-in-ai-search-study-2026", "publicationDate": "2026-09-10", "version": 1, "independentBusinesses": 100, "preservedAnswers": 1200, "runsPerQuestion": 2, "selection": "Purposive quota pilot: 20 national/high-prominence, 20 regional/multi-location, 60 local targets. Not a representative population sample.", "collectionDatesUTC": { "chatgpt_search": "2026-09-06", "openai_api_web_search": "2026-09-07", "perplexity_sonar": "2026-09-07" }, "definitions": [ "Unbranded target mention: the preserved answer names the frozen target business. Mention does not automatically mean endorsement, recommendation or a high position.", "Unbranded official citation: an actually used link to the target’s official site or a documented official alias supports a nearby target-related proposition. A search-result inventory or unrelated link does not qualify.", "Named-service fact support: the answer and retained evidence support the specific advertised service proposition asked about. This is not a score for whole-answer accuracy, professional qualifications, treatment effectiveness or business quality.", "Named-business official citation: at least one official-site citation supports a nearby target-related proposition. A qualified answer may have a valid citation without establishing the primary service proposition. “Not established” does not mean “false.”" ], "groups": { "national": { "chatgpt_search": { "businesses": 20, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 28, "denominator": 40, "percent": 70 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 20, "denominator": 40, "percent": 50 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 40, "percent": 95 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 39, "denominator": 40, "percent": 97.5 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "businesses": 20, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 10, "denominator": 40, "percent": 25 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 6, "denominator": 40, "percent": 15 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 37, "denominator": 40, "percent": 92.5 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 39, "denominator": 40, "percent": 97.5 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "businesses": 20, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 22, "denominator": 40, "percent": 55 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 2, "denominator": 40, "percent": 5 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 40, "percent": 95 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 40, "denominator": 40, "percent": 100 } } }, "regional_multilocation": { "chatgpt_search": { "businesses": 20, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 10, "denominator": 40, "percent": 25 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 40, "percent": 20 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 39, "denominator": 40, "percent": 97.5 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 39, "denominator": 40, "percent": 97.5 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "businesses": 20, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 11, "denominator": 40, "percent": 27.5 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 40, "percent": 20 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 40, "denominator": 40, "percent": 100 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 40, "denominator": 40, "percent": 100 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "businesses": 20, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 15, "denominator": 40, "percent": 37.5 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 40, "percent": 20 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 40, "percent": 95 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 40, "percent": 95 } } }, "local": { "chatgpt_search": { "businesses": 60, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 36, "denominator": 120, "percent": 30 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 21, "denominator": 120, "percent": 17.5 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 108, "denominator": 120, "percent": 90 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 110, "denominator": 120, "percent": 91.7 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "businesses": 60, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 21, "denominator": 120, "percent": 17.5 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 13, "denominator": 120, "percent": 10.8 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 104, "denominator": 120, "percent": 86.7 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 106, "denominator": 120, "percent": 88.3 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "businesses": 60, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 120, "percent": 31.7 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 17, "denominator": 120, "percent": 14.2 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 110, "denominator": 120, "percent": 91.7 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 112, "denominator": 120, "percent": 93.3 } } }, "all": { "chatgpt_search": { "businesses": 100, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 74, "denominator": 200, "percent": 37 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 49, "denominator": 200, "percent": 24.5 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 185, "denominator": 200, "percent": 92.5 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 188, "denominator": 200, "percent": 94 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "businesses": 100, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 42, "denominator": 200, "percent": 21 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 27, "denominator": 200, "percent": 13.5 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 181, "denominator": 200, "percent": 90.5 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 185, "denominator": 200, "percent": 92.5 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "businesses": 100, "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 75, "denominator": 200, "percent": 37.5 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 27, "denominator": 200, "percent": 13.5 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 186, "denominator": 200, "percent": 93 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 190, "denominator": 200, "percent": 95 } } } }, "repeatedRunAgreement": { "headers": [ "Surface", "Unbranded mention agreement", "Named-service fact agreement" ], "rows": [ [ "ChatGPT Search · Pro", "81/100 (81.0%)", "95/100 (95.0%)" ], [ "OpenAI API · web search", "78/100 (78.0%)", "99/100 (99.0%)" ], [ "Perplexity Sonar", "93/100 (93.0%)", "100/100 (100.0%)" ] ], "caption": "Matching two-run business pairs / all business pairs (%). 100 business pairs per question type per surface. Same answer-analysis source and collection dates as above; the two runs are not a multi-day replication." }, "readinessSupplement": { "label": "Exploratory, later measurement; no intervention or causal inference", "scoringDateUTC": "2026-09-09", "scorer": "SIGIL/λ-12", "bandDefinitions": { "low": "score ≤49", "middle": "score >49 and ≤76", "high": "score >76" }, "views": { "screened": { "businesses": 47, "bands": { "low": { "businesses": 17, "surfaces": { "chatgpt_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 13, "denominator": 34, "percent": 38.235294, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 34, "percent": 23.529412, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 33, "denominator": 34, "percent": 97.058824, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 33, "denominator": 34, "percent": 97.058824, "unknown": 0 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 6, "denominator": 34, "percent": 17.647059, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 3, "denominator": 34, "percent": 8.823529, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 32, "denominator": 34, "percent": 94.117647, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 32, "denominator": 34, "percent": 94.117647, "unknown": 0 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 34, "percent": 23.529412, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 4, "denominator": 34, "percent": 11.764706, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 34, "denominator": 34, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 34, "denominator": 34, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 } } } }, "middle": { "businesses": 19, "surfaces": { "chatgpt_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 38, "percent": 21.052632, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 7, "denominator": 38, "percent": 18.421053, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 38, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 38, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 38, "percent": 21.052632, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 7, "denominator": 38, "percent": 18.421053, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 36, "denominator": 38, "percent": 94.736842, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 36, "denominator": 38, "percent": 94.736842, "unknown": 0 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 14, "denominator": 38, "percent": 36.842105, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 38, "percent": 21.052632, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 38, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 38, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 } } } }, "high": { "businesses": 11, "surfaces": { "chatgpt_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 6, "denominator": 22, "percent": 27.272727, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 5, "denominator": 22, "percent": 22.727273, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 20, "denominator": 22, "percent": 90.909091, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 20, "denominator": 22, "percent": 90.909091, "unknown": 0 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 4, "denominator": 22, "percent": 18.181818, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 3, "denominator": 22, "percent": 13.636364, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 16, "denominator": 22, "percent": 72.727273, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 16, "denominator": 22, "percent": 72.727273, "unknown": 0 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 11, "denominator": 22, "percent": 50, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 5, "denominator": 22, "percent": 22.727273, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 20, "denominator": 22, "percent": 90.909091, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 20, "denominator": 22, "percent": 90.909091, "unknown": 0 } } } } } }, "highConfidence": { "businesses": 44, "bands": { "low": { "businesses": 16, "surfaces": { "chatgpt_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 13, "denominator": 32, "percent": 40.625, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 32, "percent": 25, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 31, "denominator": 32, "percent": 96.875, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 31, "denominator": 32, "percent": 96.875, "unknown": 0 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 6, "denominator": 32, "percent": 18.75, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 3, "denominator": 32, "percent": 9.375, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 30, "denominator": 32, "percent": 93.75, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 30, "denominator": 32, "percent": 93.75, "unknown": 0 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 32, "percent": 25, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 4, "denominator": 32, "percent": 12.5, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 32, "denominator": 32, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 32, "denominator": 32, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 } } } }, "middle": { "businesses": 19, "surfaces": { "chatgpt_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 38, "percent": 21.052632, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 7, "denominator": 38, "percent": 18.421053, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 38, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 38, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 38, "percent": 21.052632, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 7, "denominator": 38, "percent": 18.421053, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 36, "denominator": 38, "percent": 94.736842, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 36, "denominator": 38, "percent": 94.736842, "unknown": 0 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 14, "denominator": 38, "percent": 36.842105, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 38, "percent": 21.052632, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 38, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 38, "denominator": 38, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 } } } }, "high": { "businesses": 9, "surfaces": { "chatgpt_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 4, "denominator": 18, "percent": 22.222222, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 3, "denominator": 18, "percent": 16.666667, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 16, "denominator": 18, "percent": 88.888889, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 16, "denominator": 18, "percent": 88.888889, "unknown": 0 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 2, "denominator": 18, "percent": 11.111111, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 1, "denominator": 18, "percent": 5.555556, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 12, "denominator": 18, "percent": 66.666667, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 12, "denominator": 18, "percent": 66.666667, "unknown": 0 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 18, "percent": 44.444444, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 2, "denominator": 18, "percent": 11.111111, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 16, "denominator": 18, "percent": 88.888889, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 16, "denominator": 18, "percent": 88.888889, "unknown": 0 } } } } } }, "allNumeric": { "businesses": 54, "bands": { "low": { "businesses": 17, "surfaces": { "chatgpt_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 13, "denominator": 34, "percent": 38.235294, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 34, "percent": 23.529412, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 33, "denominator": 34, "percent": 97.058824, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 33, "denominator": 34, "percent": 97.058824, "unknown": 0 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 6, "denominator": 34, "percent": 17.647059, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 3, "denominator": 34, "percent": 8.823529, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 32, "denominator": 34, "percent": 94.117647, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 32, "denominator": 34, "percent": 94.117647, "unknown": 0 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 34, "percent": 23.529412, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 4, "denominator": 34, "percent": 11.764706, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 34, "denominator": 34, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 34, "denominator": 34, "percent": 100, "unknown": 0 } } } }, "middle": { "businesses": 26, "surfaces": { "chatgpt_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 10, "denominator": 52, "percent": 19.230769, "unknown": 1 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 7, "denominator": 52, "percent": 13.461538, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 47, "denominator": 52, "percent": 90.384615, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 49, "denominator": 52, "percent": 94.230769, "unknown": 1 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 52, "percent": 15.384615, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 7, "denominator": 52, "percent": 13.461538, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 46, "denominator": 52, "percent": 88.461538, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 48, "denominator": 52, "percent": 92.307692, "unknown": 0 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 16, "denominator": 52, "percent": 30.769231, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 8, "denominator": 52, "percent": 15.384615, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 46, "denominator": 52, "percent": 88.461538, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 48, "denominator": 52, "percent": 92.307692, "unknown": 0 } } } }, "high": { "businesses": 11, "surfaces": { "chatgpt_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 6, "denominator": 22, "percent": 27.272727, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 5, "denominator": 22, "percent": 22.727273, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 20, "denominator": 22, "percent": 90.909091, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 20, "denominator": 22, "percent": 90.909091, "unknown": 0 } }, "openai_api_web_search": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 4, "denominator": 22, "percent": 18.181818, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 3, "denominator": 22, "percent": 13.636364, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 16, "denominator": 22, "percent": 72.727273, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 16, "denominator": 22, "percent": 72.727273, "unknown": 0 } }, "perplexity_sonar": { "unbrandedTargetMention": { "numerator": 11, "denominator": 22, "percent": 50, "unknown": 0 }, "unbrandedOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 5, "denominator": 22, "percent": 22.727273, "unknown": 0 }, "namedServiceFactSupport": { "numerator": 20, "denominator": 22, "percent": 90.909091, "unknown": 0 }, "namedBusinessOfficialCitation": { "numerator": 20, "denominator": 22, "percent": 90.909091, "unknown": 0 } } } } } } } }, "limitations": [ "This selected 100-business cohort is not a representative sample of businesses worldwide, all ChatGPT users, or any national business population. Repetitions increase observations, not independent businesses. Industry cells are not used for winner/loser rankings.", "Six citation-support outcomes remain unknown: one unbranded and five named-business observations. They remain in the displayed denominators. A failed source check is not evidence that a business lacks the service.", "One consumer named-business capture exactly duplicates a discovery response and is flagged as a possible prompt/paste mismatch, not counted as a supported primary fact. It remains in the main frozen dataset. Excluding it changes ChatGPT named-service fact support from 185/200 (92.5%) to 185/199 (93.0%); the original response is preserved and no replacement was invented.", "Additional sensitivities cover a frozen name/domain mismatch, temporal branding changes, a parent/affiliate boundary, strict entity matching and unresolved citations. They are retained in the evidence package; the principal sensitivities and limitations are reported in the article. They do not turn this sample into a controlled experiment.", "An official-site citation establishes at most a narrow nearby proposition under this rubric. It does not certify every sentence, an organization’s independence, professional credentials, treatment effectiveness or the quality of a recommendation." ], "corrections": "https://www.boostgeo.com/contact" }