ChatGPT Users Seek Info 20% of Messages – Boost Local Visibility

What Happened

OpenAI released Signals V3.0 data on Oct. 26, revealing that 20.7 % of consumer messages on ChatGPT’s free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans were information‑seeking during August. That rate is virtually the same as the 20.6 % identified as writing, meaning about one in five interactions seeks facts, instructions, or background knowledge. This is the first month in a series that began in July 2024, and the pattern held into September, when writing rose to 21.4 % while information‑seeking dipped to 20.2 %.

Key Details

• Sample size and scope: 1 million messages from users aged 18 + on the free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans. Enterprise and Codex accounts were not included.
• Automated classification: Machine‑learning algorithms tagged each message as information, writing, or other based on its content.
• Monthly trend: Information‑seeking messages climbed from 19.8 % in July to 20.7 % in August, before easing a touch in September.
• Comparison to research: The rise is modest when compared to a 2025 NBER paper that forecasted a larger surge in information queries.
• Implications for AI search engines: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI are now turning to authoritative sources to satisfy user intent.
• Supporting resources: OpenAI’s blog post “ChatGPT expanding the world of work” explains how the platform is being used for professional tasks, and VisibilityAI offers an AI‑search tracking checklist to attribute calls from ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity.

What It Means for Your Business

1. Your citations are more important than ever

When a user asks a question, the chatbot scrapes the web for the most credible answers. If your business information is missing or inconsistent across platforms, the AI will fall back on competitors or generic responses. Strengthen your presence with these steps:

• Audit your listings: Confirm that your NAP details match on Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Yelp, Facebook, and industry directories.
• Add structured data: Implement schema.org markup for local business, product, and review types to make your data easier for AI engines to parse.
• Encourage reviews: Fresh, positive reviews boost credibility and can be cited directly by AI tools.

2. Build FAQ‑style content that AI can surface

LLMs excel at answering concise, direct questions. Create keyword‑rich FAQ pages that address common local queries—such as “What are your hours?”, “Do you offer curbside pickup?”, or “Is the restroom accessible?” Use clear headings and bullet points so the AI can extract the answer quickly.

3. Monitor AI‑generated citations

VisibilityAI’s AI‑search tracking checklist shows where your business appears in AI results and how often it’s called. If you spot inaccurate or incomplete citations, reach out to the platform or update your data right away. The checklist also tracks calls from ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, giving you a comprehensive view of your AI footprint.

4. Leverage the 20 % of users seeking information

With one in five messages now information‑seeking, local businesses can tap into this trend by:

• Host webinars or Q&A sessions that answer common customer questions.
• Produce video tutorials that can be embedded in FAQ sections.
• Leverage social media to answer FAQs; the AI may pull from your latest posts.

Take Action Today

• Run a citation audit with VisibilityAI or a similar tool.
• Add or update schema markup on your website.
• Publish a comprehensive FAQ page and promote it on social media.
• Track AI‑generated calls using the free checklist from Search Engine Journal.

Why It Matters

For businesses that depend on local discovery, the rise of information‑seeking queries signals that AI tools—ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI—are emerging as primary search engines. Inaccurate or missing business facts will push the AI toward competitors or generic answers, costing you leads and revenue. By keeping your NAP details consistent, adding schema markup, and publishing FAQ content that directly answers common questions, you provide AI engines with clean data, boosting visibility in AI‑driven results and reinforcing traditional search rankings, as search engines increasingly reward accurate, structured local information.

FAQs

• How can I track AI‑generated traffic to my business? Use VisibilityAI’s AI‑search tracking checklist to attribute calls from ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. The tool shows exactly where and how often your business surfaces in AI results.
• What is the best schema for local businesses? The localBusiness schema that includes address, phone, opening hours, and aggregateRating is the most effective for AI engines to read your data.
• How often should I update my citations? Review and update your listings at least quarterly, or right after any major change—such as a new address, phone number, or hours.