AI index · method

How we ask the AI tools

The same questions, in every town, to four tools, three times each.

The tools

ChatGPT: the public chatgpt.com, signed out, with web search. The location is the United States; the town is in the question.
Gemini: the Gemini app, with the location set to the town where possible, else the county.
Google AI Mode: Google Search AI Mode, with the location set to the town where possible, else the county.
Perplexity: the Sonar model with web search. Its location cannot be set; the town is in the question.

DataForSEO runs the tools for us and returns the full answer, the sources and the searches. Claude is not in the index yet.

Each question goes to each tool 3 times, because the answers change from run to run. With 3 questions, a town gets 36 answers per trade.

Water damage restoration:
- "best water damage restoration in {c}, MI"
- "who should I call for a flooded basement in {c}, MI"
- "top rated water damage restoration company in {c} Michigan"
Mold remediation:
- "best mold remediation in {c}, MI"
- "who should I call for mold removal in {c}, MI"
- "top rated mold remediation company in {c} Michigan"
Plumbers:
- "best plumber in {c}, MI"
- "who should I call for a burst pipe in {c}, MI"
- "top rated emergency plumber in {c} Michigan"
Roofers:
- "best roofer in {c}, MI"
- "who should I call for a roof leak in {c}, MI"
- "top rated roof replacement company in {c} Michigan"
Hvac companies:
- "best HVAC company in {c}, MI"
- "who should I call for furnace repair in {c}, MI"
- "top rated AC repair company in {c} Michigan"

A business counts once per answer, however many times the answer names it.
"Named in N of M": M is every answer for that town and trade, including answers that named nobody.
We match names to TownAnswer profiles by name, phone number and distance. A franchise name matches only the location the answer named, or the one location within 15 miles when the answer gives only the brand.
Names that are not on TownAnswer stay on the list, marked "Not on TownAnswer".
Quotes are copied word for word. Long dashes are shown as hyphens, and a quote that breaks our own copy rules is replaced by another tool's quote.
We do not edit, reorder or remove names. The order is the count.
A town's results show only with 9+ answers and 5+ different businesses named.
The AI counts never change the TownAnswer score or ranked list. They sit in their own section.
We ask again each month and show what changed.

AI answers swing. One run of one question is noise, so we ask 3 times.
Phone numbers, ratings and claims inside the answers are the tools' words. Some are wrong. Check them with each business.
A signed-in user with history can get a different answer.