Answers / How AI Search Works
Does Bing Places Matter for ChatGPT?
Probably, and it's free. ChatGPT search uses third-party search providers, and OpenAI's help docs say ChatGPT search for business workspaces sends queries to Bing. Claiming Bing Places and matching it to your Google profile is a 20-minute task worth doing.
What OpenAI says
- OpenAI says ChatGPT search "leverages third-party search providers, as well as content provided directly by our partners."
- Its consumer help page says ChatGPT search "sometimes partners with other search providers," rewriting your question into searches it sends them.
- For Enterprise and Edu workspaces, OpenAI names the provider: ChatGPT "may share disassociated search queries with the Bing search engine."
What that means for a local business
OpenAI doesn't say ChatGPT reads Bing Places listings directly. But when ChatGPT turns "good restaurants near me" into a search like "top restaurants San Francisco" (OpenAI's own example), the results it gets back can include Bing's local data. If your Bing listing is missing or wrong, you're relying on whatever else Bing has.
How to set up Bing Places
- Go to Bing Places for Business (bingplaces.com).
- Import from your Google Business Profile if offered, or add your business manually.
- Verify, then compare every field to Google: name, address, phone, hours, categories, website.
Don't stop at Bing
ChatGPT also cites directories and review sites heavily. A Yext study of 6.8 million AI citations found 48.73% of ChatGPT's local citations came from third-party listings. Bing is one listing among several that need to agree.
FAQ
Is Bing Places free?
Yes. Bing promotes paid advertising separately, but the listing itself is free.
If I fix Bing, will ChatGPT recommend me?
Nobody can promise that. It removes one reason ChatGPT might have wrong or missing information about you.
Sources
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