How Google’s AI SERP Is Changing Local SEO in 2025?

In 2025, Google is continuously reshaping the search experience with AI.

Now, Google AI SERP update and the introduction of AI Overviews for local searches are transforming how nearby businesses are found on search. 

But what does this mean for your local business? 

In this blog, we have uncovered what’s behind the Google AI SERP update, its impact on your business, and strategies you can use to improve visibility for your local business. 

To ensure that your business’ reach does not get affected, and you can get the best out of the new algorithm, you must understand how Google's AI search update will affect local SEO. Let’s get started and dive deep inside about this new trend!

Understanding Google’s AI SERP and AI Overview

Google’s AI Overviews, powered by Gemini, are changing how local businesses show up in search results. Let’s understand Google’s AI SERP and AI overview one point at a time.

1. AI Overviews Alongside the Traditional 3-Pack

For years, searching for ‘near me’ triggered a map and three local listings, often referred to as the ‘local pack.’ Now, AI Overviews will also appear along with the three-pack, summarizing top options with a short paragraph, thumbnail images, and external review links.

2. Increased Importance of Google Business Profile (GBP)

Google’s AI Mode relies heavily on Google Business Profile data to generate local AI responses and recommendations. Therefore, businesses with a well-maintained and active GBP and positive Google reviews are more likely to be featured prominently in AI overview, even if the traditional organic listings are pushed down the page (may be in future). 

3. Top Listings May Differ Entirely from the Local Pack

The trend shows that the businesses featured in AI overview summaries aren’t always the ones in the traditional local pack. Google's AI sometimes highlights different establishments, based on a wider set of data and potentially opaque relevance signals.

4. Dive Deeper Feature Encourages Further Exploration

A new “Dive Deeper in AI Mode” button lets users expand the summary into more options and context. This encourages deeper engagement and may reduce reliance on standard map-based results.

AI Overviews are set to replace how local businesses appear in search results and gather attention from their target customers. Let’s take a look at how this new advancement will affect Local SEO.

How AI Search Results Are Reshaping Local SEO?

After the Google AI SERP update, Google local search is no longer a one-source affair, and users may now get to view three variations of local results, each with its own distinct content and business visibility. 

For example, a search such as "best tyre shop near me" may now show results in three ways:

• A Local Pack with three local listings, which are usually different from the AI Overview.

• An AI Overview, including a brief summary with highlighted businesses and links to sources such as Yelp or Reddit.

• AI Mode (Search Labs), which is the repetition of the same query but with another set of businesses and content.

Now, let’s take a look at how Google’s AI SERP can impact your business visibility.

What Google’s AI SERP Means for Local Business Visibility?

Integration of AI into Google Search is changing the way businesses are discovered. This is how things are changing now:

1. Visibility Takes More Effort

These changes mean that businesses must work harder to maintain visibility. Factors like sentiment in reviews, brand consistency, and off-site mentions have a bigger impact. 

Since AI is context-driven, results are no longer fixed. Businesses may appear in one type of result but not another, depending on how well their content aligns with AI’s interpretation of user intent.

2. Shift from Keywords to Intent

AI now analyzes how well a site responds to natural, conversational questions. Thus, local businesses should worry less about keywords in isolation and more about intent and depth of content. 

Additionally, the reviews, quality of service, and clarity of language on your site are important factors in this choice, affecting your overall visibility.

3. Rise of Zero-Click Results

Search powered by AI also affects click-through rates for business profiles. Most users can now obtain what they require from summaries, and thus, there are fewer visits to websites. 

This zero-click environment translates to a decrease in terms of visibility, authority, and overall website traffic.

Google’s focus is now on improving the user experience by providing concise information with AI overviews. 

If you want to ensure your business appears in these AI-powered search results, you must optimize your business profile and improve your Google reviews while sharing helpful content on your website. 

Now, let’s understand the strategies you can use to improve your business visibility with this Google update. 

Local SEO Strategies for Better Visibility in AI Search

As per the latest updates, businesses that demonstrate evidence of trust via Google reviews and case studies will be highlighted in AI summaries. Along with these aspects, you must ensure following the below-mentioned strategies. 

1. Enhance Your E-E-A-T Signals

Enhancing E-E-A-T is now more crucial than ever before. Your content and website must demonstrate actual expertise, supported by relevant experience, credible sources, and a reputation for trustworthiness. To improve your EEAT signals, you must use first-person narratives, detailed service pages, and cite reliable sources. 

2. Align Content with Natural Search Behavior

Apply long-tail and natural language keywords to match the way individuals speak and search, particularly via voice. Rather than keyword stuffing, use location-specific queries and user pain points. For instance, a Florida bakery should produce content such as ‘Best gluten-free birthday cakes in Miami, Florida' for their Local Search Visibility.

3. Optimize Google Business Profile With Care

Google Business Profile accuracy is still paramount, but ensure to avoid frequent profile updates unless absolutely necessary, because suspensions due to AI are higher. You can focus on growing your Google reviews, making Q&A upgrades, and adding new images over category or name upgrades.

4. Strengthen Off-Site Presence and Review Volume

Having a local reputation is now more important than ever as AI takes off-site signals into account when it determines which businesses to spotlight. Make efforts to get Google reviews from your satisfied customers. The more detailed your Google review, the better your visibility in AI overviews.

Conclusion

The emergence of AI-search via means such as AI Overviews and test AI Mode signifies an irreversible revolution in how users find nearby businesses. 

In this new landscape, you must pay attention to metrics that are important to AI: branded search, volume, and quality of online reviews to get your Google business profile listed in AI-generated summaries. 

Of these, Google reviews are coming forward as the most important factor. Not only do they affect consumers' trust, but they also directly inform the AI algorithms about your Google business profile. 

At Buyreviewz, you can Buy Google Reviews for your local business and increase your visibility in AI overviews and reach more people. 

The AI transition is not something to fear; it's an opportunity to get your business listed in AI overviews, along with the 3-pack. Grow high-quality Google reviews for your profile and dominate the local search landscape.