August 6, 2026

To all the press

GMO TECH, Inc.

What information does AI rely on when searching for a store?
An analysis of approximately 44 responses revealed that about 7% cited store information from Google.

　GMO TECH, Inc. (President and CEO: Ryoichi Suzuki, hereinafter referred to as GMO TECH), a member of the GMO Internet Group, has launched Google AI Mode.^{(※ 1)}However, when searching for stores and facilities such as restaurants, hospitals, and beauty salons, we investigated what kind of information is used as the basis for the answer, and "the reality of store information cited in Google AI search."
　This study focused on local search^{(※ 2)}We analyzed approximately 110,000 searches and a total of approximately 440,000 AI responses across 21 industries in four separate analyses conducted between May and July 2026. The results showed that approximately 70% of the responses referenced Google Store Cards (a display area summarizing store information shown on Google Search and Google Maps). Furthermore, the proportion of Google Store Cards in the reference information included in the AI ​​responses increased from an average of 38.0% in May 2026 to 48.8% in July.
　This study revealed that Google's AI search may be using not only websites but also store information on Google as an important source of information for its AI responses.

(*1) Google AI Mode: A search function in Google Search where AI generates answers based on multiple sources of information.
(*2) Local search: A search that focuses on location or proximity to businesses and facilities, such as "hair salons near me" or "lunch in Shibuya."

[Background of the survey]
　The proliferation of generative AI is changing how people find stores and facilities. AI search directly suggests potential stores and facilities based not only on websites, but also on information displayed in Google Business Cards, such as store name, location, business hours, and customer reviews. Therefore, traditional SEO and MEO are becoming less relevant.^{(※ 3)}In addition, GEO helps AI correctly understand and quote information about your company and stores.^{(※ 4)}AIO^{(※ 5)}Its importance is increasing.
　Therefore, the Algorithm Research Laboratory, a research organization for search and AI search operated by GMO TECH, conducted a survey with the aim of quantitatively understanding the trends in citation sources in AI search.

(*3) MEO (Map Engine Optimization): Measures to make it easier for people to find stores and facilities using map searches such as Google Maps.
(*4) GEO: This refers to optimizing your website, brand, and information so that generating AI such as ChatGPT and Gemini will cite and mention them as "trustworthy sources."
(*5) AIO: A function in which AI summarizes and displays multiple pieces of information in the search results.

[Survey Summary]
■Approximately 7% of AI responses refer to Google Store Cards.
　In the Google AI mode responses analyzed this time, approximately 7% were found to be references linked to store and facility information on Google.
　When users search for things like "nearby restaurants," "local hospitals," or "recommended hair salons," Google AI Mode doesn't just compile answers based on general web pages. It's believed to refer to Google's own information on individual stores and facilities to suggest options and describe their characteristics.

■The proportion of store and facility information in reference information is increasing.
　The proportion of store and facility information within Google Store Cards among the reference information included in AI responses increased from an average of 38.0% in May 2026 to 48.8% in July.
　During the observation period, a trend was observed where the proportion of Google Store Cards used as a source of information for AI responses was increasing.
This suggests that Google AI Search's local search responses are no longer simply summarizing web page search results, but are beginning to be more strongly linked to the store information data that Google organizes and manages.

■ Google store and facility information accounts for the majority of citations in 9 industries.
　As of July 4, 2026, Google's store and facility information accounted for more than half of all citations in nine different business sectors.
　Google Store Cards were the primary source of information for a wide range of businesses, including not only restaurants and hotels, but also medical facilities, real estate agencies, and beauty salons, where users could search for stores and facilities by specifying a region or location.
　On the other hand, the highest percentage was for izakayas (Japanese pubs) at 87.5%, while the lowest was for fitness centers at 9.8%, a difference of 77.7 percentage points. The tendency for Google Store Card information to be used differs greatly depending on the industry, and it was also found that the AI's reference trends differ for each industry in local searches.

■ Visualizing the "store information infrastructure" behind AI search
　The responses from Google AI mode may include URLs in a proprietary format (Google's own display links) that differ from typical website URLs and are used to display Google's internal store information and other similar content.
　In this study, we analyzed these URL structures and investigated their correspondence with information that identifies stores and facilities. As a result, we confirmed that the references in the AI ​​responses could be linked to and analyzed with individual store and facility information on Google.
　This makes it possible to quantitatively observe, within a certain range, which was previously difficult to grasp, "which store information the AI ​​used as the basis for its answer."

[In the age of AI search, store information dissemination cannot be completed with "websites alone"]
　The results of this study suggest that information such as store or facility name, address, business hours, phone number, and user reviews and ratings may be used as a foundation for local searches to find stores and facilities.
　To prepare for AI search, it is important to keep not only your website but also your store and facility information on Google accurate and up-to-date, and to ensure that there are no discrepancies in the information across different sources.

[The Algorithm Research Lab's Perspective]
　What's noteworthy about this study is not only that specific information sources managed by Google were frequently used, but also that we were able to continuously observe the reference structure supporting AI search responses from a large dataset.
 　In AI search, the sources and reference trends can change, so we believe it's important to continuously monitor these changes.
 　The Algorithm Research Lab will continue to investigate and publish information on changes in citation and recommendation in AI search.

[Report Summary]

■ Survey outline
Survey subjects: Local Japanese search responses in Google AI mode
Number of target queries: Approximately 109,500
Number of observed responses: Approximately 44 responses in total across 4 time points.
Total aggregated data: Approximately 75 combinations of responses and cited URLs.
Target industries: 21 industries with physical stores or facilities
Comparison subjects: Insurance, credit cards, and job changes (3 industries)
Observation dates: May 6, May 27, June 17, July 4, 2026
Analysis items: frequency of store/facility information in responses, citation rate, URL structure
Data source: "cited-pages" and "ai-responses" from Ahrefs Brand Radar.
Target region: Japan
Research and analysis: GMO TECH Algorithm Research Lab

*The percentages are calculated based on the data included in the survey.
*These survey results do not guarantee that the behavior will be the same for all search queries and responses.

[About the Algorithm Research Lab]
　The Algorithm Research Lab is a research and development organization focused on search algorithms and AI search, operated by GMO TECH, Inc.
　Through large-scale observation and analysis of search results and AI responses, we research how company and store information is evaluated, recommended, and cited on search services, and publish the results in reports.
　In our previous survey, we analyzed the response trends when AI recommended stores and services and published our findings as the "grammar of AI recommendations." We will continue to observe changes in AI search from multiple perspectives.

[About GMO TECH]

　GMO TECH, Inc. is a technology company that leverages AI and SaaS to support businesses in achieving sales growth and improving operational efficiency.
　In addition to developing customer acquisition support businesses in the SEO, MEO, and AI marketing fields, including the store customer acquisition DX SaaS "MEO Dash! byGMO," we also provide operational efficiency support through the real estate DX SaaS "GMO Rental DX," and operate affiliate advertising, internet media, and payment services businesses.
　Leveraging our unique AI technology and in-house developed products, we are promoting the creation of systems that enable AI to continuously deliver value in business operations, supporting companies' digital transformation and sustainable growth.

Above

[Press inquiries]
GMO TECH Holdings, Inc.
　Public Relations Department Kobayashi
　TEL:03-5489-6370 FAX:03-5489-6371
　E-mail: hd-press@hd.gmotech.jp

GMO Internet Group, Inc.
Group Public Relations Department PR Team Kurata
TEL：03-5456-2695
Contact Us:https://group.gmo/contact/press-inquiries/

[Contact information regarding services]
GMO TECH, Inc.
　Product Marketing Division, Sales Department
　TEL: 03-4405-0939 (direct) FAX: 03-5489-6371
　E-mail: pm-marketing@gmotech.jp

[GMO TECH Inc.] (URL:https://gmotech.jp/）    

[GMO TECH Holdings, Inc.] (URL:https://hd.gmotech.jp/）

[GMO Internet Group, Inc.] (URL:https://group.gmo/）

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