In August 2026, I decided to go to Dalkey for a nice dinner.
But where?
In the past, I would have opened Google and looked through restaurants and reviews. This time, I asked ChatGPT and Claude.
I pay for both and feel that, over time, they have come to understand me to some extent. Still, I have to admit that ChatGPT probably knows me a little better.
They recommended different restaurants. Because I feel closer to ChatGPT, I chose its first recommendation.
I had a lovely evening. But the experience led me to a bigger question:
Are Dublin businesses ready for the AI recommendation economy?
What is the AI recommendation economy?
The AI recommendation economy is a new discovery environment in which people ask an AI system directly for advice before choosing a business or product.
A few answers to “Where should I eat in Dalkey?” can influence where someone goes and spends their money.
AI tools may give different answers because their models, web sources, current data and user context differ. Google rankings are no longer the only consideration. How these systems understand a business is also becoming important.
What is GEO?
This shift is bringing more attention to GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization.
The GEO research paper, published at KDD in 2024, presents a framework for improving the visibility of web content in generative AI responses.
While SEO focuses on visibility in search results, GEO aims to help content be found, understood and cited by systems such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Perplexity.
GEO does not replace SEO. Accurate information, credible sources and technical accessibility remain essential. No method can guarantee that an AI system will recommend a particular business.
Where does Google fit into this change?
Google is also blurring the boundary between search and AI recommendations.
In 2026, Google introduced restaurant discovery and reservation features through AI Mode in the UK. Users can describe their needs and move from suitable suggestions towards a reservation.
Google is turning search into an AI-supported decision layer.
What should Dublin businesses do?
I think businesses should begin with one question:
“Why should AI recommend me, and what verifiable information should support that recommendation?”
An up-to-date website, clear location and service information, menus, opening hours, booking links, structured data and credible independent reviews are becoming increasingly important.
If I had received a poor recommendation, who would I have questioned: the restaurant, ChatGPT or myself for trusting it?
Perhaps future competition will not only be about ranking first on Google.
It may be about becoming one of the few options AI chooses to recommend.
