AI recommends a shortlist of providers, typically three to four.
This study analyzed 3,234 AI answers and 10,133 citations to 72 patient questions on ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overview, checked against 18,492 practice listings in five US metro markets: suburban Chicago, Philadelphia-South Jersey, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Phoenix West Valley and suburban Houston.
On local medical provider discovery questions in Javvo's study, ChatGPT named about 3 providers per answer and Perplexity about 4, while Gemini averaged about 7 and read more like a directory page than a recommendation. Only 14% of provider discovery answers elevated a single practice above the rest.
AI answers a provider discovery question with a list, not a single name
On provider discovery questions, ChatGPT named about 3 providers per answer and Perplexity about 4. Google AI Overview averages about 3 names whenever it names anyone, measured across all question types, since it appears too rarely on provider discovery searches to measure there. Gemini is the outlier. It averages about 7 providers per answer and reads more like a directory page than a recommendation.
Providers named per provider-discovery answer
| Engine | Mean providers named |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 2.92 |
| Google AI Overview* | 3.02 |
| Perplexity | 4.03 |
| Gemini | 6.56 |
*Google AI Overview measured across all question types.
The length of the provider list varies depending on the question
Condition questions generally drew the longest lists, at about 5 providers named per answer. Urgency and insurance questions drew tighter lists of about 3, and direct questions about a specific practice drew the shortest lists, at about 2.
Crowning a single winner in AI answers is rare
Only 14% of provider discovery answers elevated one practice above the rest, and another 11% narrowed the field to two. The rest presented options and left the choice with the patient. When an engine does commit to a single recommendation, it tends to commit to a person. Every single-winner pick that named an individual doctor rather than a practice occurred in podiatry, where doctors are named most.
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AEO for partnersAugust 2026 edition.