AI Is Breaking Local Search—But Google Still Decides Who Gets Chosen - Interview with Gyi Tsakalakis

AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Mode are changing how people discover local businesses—but not how they choose them. In this episode, we unpack what AI means for local SEO, Google Business Profiles, reviews, directories, and brand demand, and why local marketers need to rethink visibility before rankings disappear. 00:00 – Why “ranking in ChatGPT” is the wrong local SEO question 04:50 – AI discovery vs. Google local conversion 08:30 – Brand demand and review ecosystems 13:40 – Directories, aggregation, and local trust signals 17:00 – Cognitive load and why AI feels better than Google 21:00 – Ads, AI Mode, and the future of local SERPs 25:00 – What local marketers should do now