SEO experts warn brands must track AI recommendation rates beyond awareness
Tony Uphoff, a five-time CEO and media strategist, conducted a test in October asking AI search engines—ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews—questions his clients typically ask. His two businesses appeared in only 1 of 43 answers, despite the models recognizing him personally. This gap between brand awareness and AI-driven recommendations highlights a critical measurement issue…
Key points
- AI search engines recommended Uphoff’s businesses in just **1 of 43** answers despite high personal recognition
- G2’s 2026 survey shows **51% of B2B buyers** start research with AI chatbots, up from **29%** in 2025
- Only **29% of marketers** track AI visibility, yet **69%** of buyers report AI influencing vendor selection
Uphoff’s findings align with broader trends: 69% of B2B buyers now start research with AI chatbots, per G2’s March 2026 survey, and 51% use them more often than Google. Yet most brands still focus on traditional SEO metrics like rankings and traffic, not whether AI engines recommend them for specific queries. His test also revealed that AI defaults to outdated sources—like old press releases—when describing brands, skewing recommendations. Only 29% of marketers actively track AI visibility, according to Corporate Ink’s data, leaving most businesses blind to this shift.
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The AI Search Measurement Gap Brands Must Close In 2027 And Beyond via @sejournal, @gregjarboe
Search Engine Journal · 30 October 2026
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