Not reliably. In a study published September 23, 2026, Google rank showed almost no link to which Australian businesses ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity recommended, while mentions and links on other websites mattered more. Treat Google rank and ChatGPT recommendations as separate questions. Your first step is to check where your business is mentioned today.
The study came from EarnedMedia.com.au, a Sydney digital marketing agency, with a press release on October 1, 2026. The agency sells this kind of work, and nobody independent has verified the results. This post explains what the study measured, what it does not show, and how you can run a similar check on your own business in an afternoon.
What did the study actually measure?
It ran 90 everyday Australian questions across nine industries on ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity with web search on. That produced 360 answers and 3,069 citations. The authors then compared 137 Australian websites against Semrush data on Google page-one rankings and Ahrefs data on referring domains.
Two limits matter. The study is correlational, so it does not show that links cause AI mentions, and the authors say engines also weigh content structure, recency and topical fit. The Australian numbers describe that sample only.
Does Google rank affect ChatGPT recommendations?
In this sample, almost not at all. Across the Australian data, a business’s share of page-one Google rankings had no statistically meaningful link to how often AI engines cited it (a correlation of 0.09, where 0 is no link and 1 is a perfect link). In the study’s US test of 100 questions, the link was marginal, at 0.15.
That does not make ranking useless. Google still sends clicks, and Google AI Overviews and AI Mode draw on Google’s own index. It means a page-one position did not predict a mention by ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Perplexity in this data.
What did predict who got recommended?
Mentions and links from other websites. In the Australian data, businesses in the top 25% for mentions and links were recommended 1.9 times as often as those in the bottom 25%. The US figure was 2.3 times. The press release also says business size, marketing budget and brand recognition had little bearing, and that smaller niche sites earned notable shares of recommendations.
| Factor | Classic SEO | AI recommendations (this study) |
|---|---|---|
| Google rank | Central | Almost no measurable link in Australia; marginal in the US |
| Mentions and links on other sites | Important | Strongest predictor |
| Business size or budget | Often helps | Little bearing |
| Niche focus | Helps with intent | Small niche sites earned a share |
Source for the table: the study’s published methods and press release. We have not reproduced its data.
What does this mean for a small business?
It means “rank first” is an incomplete plan. Ask a second question: who else names and links to you? Local news, industry directories, supplier pages, association lists and review sites are places an AI engine can read. An accurate Google Business Profile and a clear site still matter because engines compare sources. See how SEO, AEO and GEO differ for where each fits.
Nobody can promise that more mentions produce a recommendation. Engines change, and answers differ by question and by day.
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How can you check where your business is mentioned?
- Write 10 questions a customer would ask before choosing a business like yours, in the town where you work.
- Ask each one in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, and run the same searches on Google. Use a logged-out window.
- Record whether your business is named, whether the details are correct, and which sources the engine cites.
- Search your business name in quotes on Google. List every site that mentions it and whether it links to you.
- Compare against two competitors that do get named. Note which sites mention them but not you.
Our free self-check tool walks through the same steps. Tracking these questions every month is what our consulting and audits page covers.
What should you fix first?
Fix wrong facts first: name, address, hours and services on your site and Google Business Profile. Then add accurate listings on sites your customers and suppliers already trust. Then earn mentions by doing useful things others cite, such as a local guide, a supplier page or an association profile. Skip bought links, because Google’s spam policies list buying or selling links for ranking as link spam.
How should you measure progress?
Re-run the same 10 questions on the same engines each month and log the results. Count named mentions, correct details and cited sources. Do not use traffic alone, because AI answers often send no click. For wider context, see how our local-business AI test compared ChatGPT with Google Maps.
Google rank vs ChatGPT recommendations: FAQ
Is SEO still worth doing if Google rank did not predict AI recommendations?
Yes. Google still sends searches and clicks, and Google AI Overviews and AI Mode use Google’s index. The study suggests rank alone did not predict which businesses ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Perplexity named. Keep doing SEO, and add mention-building and accurate business facts.
Does this study apply to the Philippines, the UK or the US?
Partly. The study also ran a US test with 100 questions, and Google rank showed only a marginal link there. The Philippines and the UK were not tested. Run your own 10-question check in your market before you change your plan.
Can anyone guarantee a ChatGPT recommendation?
No. Engines change, and answers vary by question and by day. A careful process can improve the facts engines read and track the results each month, but AvantScale does not promise citations or inclusion.
See what ChatGPT says about your business
Our free audit runs 10 buying questions across ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Overviews, saves a screenshot of every answer, and a person replies within 24 hours, Monday to Friday. You keep the audit whether or not you work with us. Get your free audit.
