Google has begun testing AI-generated descriptions that can replace or rewrite the text shown under your listing in search results. Here’s what that means for local visibility and how to respond.

AI summaries can change how customers see your business before they click.

What’s Changing in Local Search

Even before AI, Google did not always use your meta description. It often pulled text directly from your page. Now it goes further by using artificial intelligence to summarize and rewrite snippets so they better match each searcher’s intent.

In practice, the AI may combine content from different sections, reword your message, or omit details you consider essential, such as city names or signature services.

Why This Matters for Small and Local Businesses

Your snippet is the first impression. If the AI description misses your location, dilutes your brand voice, or emphasizes the wrong service, your click-through rate can drop even if your ranking stays the same.

• Local relevance risk: City or service-area mentions might vanish in a generic rewrite.
• Brand voice loss: AI may favor neutral wording over your differentiated messaging.
• Conversion impact: If benefits and proof points are watered down, fewer searchers will click.

What You Can Do Right Now

1. Strengthen local context across the page. Name your city, neighborhoods, and service areas in headings and opening paragraphs, not just the footer.
2. Use LocalBusiness schema. Add name , address , areaServed , sameAs , and service details to help Google interpret your content consistently.
3. Build focused service pages. Create a clear page for each high-value service. AI summaries are better when the page topic is unambiguous.
4. Write naturally and clearly. Avoid keyword stuffing. Use customer language and answer common questions directly near the top.
5. Keep your Google Business Profile accurate. Categories, hours, services, and descriptions often influence what shows up in snippets.
6. Monitor your live snippets. Search your brand and core terms on desktop and mobile. If the snippet misrepresents you, refine headlines and first paragraphs for clarity and location signals.
7. Reinforce E-E-A-T signals. Add owner bios, licenses, years in business, testimonials, and local project highlights to help AI summarize you with authority.

The Bigger Picture

AI is reshaping local discovery, from Google’s AI Overviews to assistant-style answers in other platforms. You may not control every word that appears under your link, but you do control the clarity, structure, and local relevance of your content.

Need a hand adapting to AI-driven search?

Local Business Spike helps small businesses stay visible across Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and more. We audit your pages, tighten local signals, implement schema, and monitor CTR so you keep getting qualified clicks. Learn more here!