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September 14, 2026 · Jeff Mays
When an agency tells a client, "You're showing up in Google AI," I'd like to know which experience they checked.
Was it an AI Overview in the regular search results? Was it AI Mode? Where did the links go, and what did the answer say about the business?
Those questions are becoming part of how I think about AI Presence Management. As we've built RediForAI, we've kept learning that a broad statement about visibility needs evidence behind it. A business owner needs to understand what a potential customer could actually find.
This week, I want to look at two places worth checking separately.
Two Google experiences to look at
AI Overviews can appear within regular Google Search results. AI Mode supports a more conversational search, including follow-up questions and comparisons.
Google says the two experiences may use different models and techniques, which means their responses and supporting links can vary. That's a good reason to record what each one shows. Google Search Central guidance
A recent Steady Demand study reported that 79.8% of AI Mode's local-intent citations in its sample pointed to Google Maps or Business Profile links. The study was corrected on September 9. This is a citation pattern from a particular sample, not a measurement of leads or proof of ranking factors. Revised research
My practical response is to follow the links. If someone is being pointed to a client's business listing, I want to know what they'll find there.
Check the information at the destination
Imagine you manage a plumbing company's website. The owner adds a service, and you create a clear page explaining what it includes and where it's available.
Later, you look at the Google Business Profile. The information there hasn't caught up. Perhaps the hours are outdated, or the website link leads to an old page.
That's the kind of detail an agency can investigate with the owner.
Start by confirming the details with the owner. Check the services, service areas, hours, phone number, and destination page. Make sure you're describing what the business actually offers.
Google recommends keeping Business Profile information complete and accurate for local search. That supports doing this work, while leaving the outcome of any particular AI answer open. Google Business Profile guidance
The agency's relationship matters here. You have someone to call when the public information doesn't match what you understood about the business.
Read the answer as well as the links
I'd record three things separately: a source link, a business mention, and a recommendation.
For example, an answer might link to a useful article on your client's website. Read the answer to see whether it also names the company or suggests it as a provider.
Then check the description. Does it accurately explain the services? Does it put the business in the right area? Does it suggest something the company doesn't offer?
This lets you have a more specific conversation with the owner:
"Here's the question we checked. Here's what appeared. Here's where the link goes. This detail needs attention."
That is something a client can understand and respond to. You can agree on the correction, record the work, and come back to see what changed.
Start with one client and a few questions
Choose questions that reflect how someone might evaluate that client's services. Include a provider search with the city named and a question about choosing a service.
Check regular Google Search and record any AI Overview. Check AI Mode separately. Save the exact question, date, location context, answer, and linked sources.
If an AI Overview doesn't appear, record that observation. Check again on another occasion before drawing a broad conclusion. Google explains that these overviews appear only when its systems determine they add value to the search.
Keep the notes simple enough to discuss with the owner. What did you observe? What needs verification? What can you correct? What will you check next?
Google's website guidance still emphasizes useful content, technical accessibility, and current business information. It says no special AI markup is required for these experiences. Google's guidance for site owners
That's a sensible place to put our effort. Fix something because it's inaccurate, unclear, or difficult to use, and be honest about what you can measure afterward.
This is the approach I want RediForAI to support: keep learning, examine the evidence, and help agencies explain useful next steps. We can't promise a recommendation, but we can be precise about what we observed and the work we propose.
Pick one client this week. Check both Google AI experiences, follow the links, and bring the owner one finding you can explain clearly.
If you’d like help working through a client audit, get started with RediForAI.