Streets Ahead: Google Acknowledges ChatGPT Threat, New Visibility Boost for Restaurants

In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses Google admitting the competitive threat of ChatGPT and also doubling down on Local with a new “What’s Happening” feature benefiting restaurants

Google on the ChatGPT Threat

The News  An internal Google document, surfaced during the ongoing Department of Justice trial (with a decision expected soon), reveals a major strategic pivot: Google is bracing for the decline of traditional search.

In an October meeting, executives acknowledged that erosion in search market share is “inevitable” amid rising competition from generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Their response? Doubling down on Gemini—Google’s own AI assistant—as the future of user engagement.

To stay ahead, Google is weighing ad monetization within Gemini and testing integrated shopping experiences—moves that mirror recent strategies from rivals like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Why This Matters  Google’s acknowledgment signals a broader shift in consumer behavior—one that could usher in a “post-search” era driven by AI and social platforms. Younger users are leading the charge, increasingly relying on generative AI and social media for discovery and decision-making.

As highlighted in SOCi’s 2025 Consumer Behavior Index, traditional search engines like Google remain dominant for local discovery among U.S. consumers. However, the fastest-growing trend is AI adoption, especially among younger demographics who are reshaping how and where local engagement happens.

New Feature to Boost Visibility for Restaurants

The News  Google has officially rolled out its “What’s Happening” feature, boosting visibility for restaurant updates within Google Business Profiles (GBP). This new module surfaces timely posts—such as events, specials, and promotions—at the bottom of mobile profiles during direct brand searches, and also pulls in content from linked social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X.

For now, the feature is limited to single-location food and beverage businesses in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, with plans to expand to multi-location chains on the horizon.

easy for businesses to set up. While the company confirmed it’s using advanced voice AI-powered technology, it has not revealed the identity of its AI provider.

Why This Matters  Restaurant and food businesses should take full advantage of Google Posts and linked social profiles to boost local visibility and engagement. This latest feature highlights Google’s growing emphasis on surfacing rich, real-time content directly in search. Data shows that integrating social profiles can significantly increase traffic to a business’s Google listing.