ChatGPT, Gemini or Google AI Showing Wrong Information About Your Business? How to Fix What AI Says

Quick answer: AI tools mostly repeat what they find on the web: your Google Business Profile, your website, directories, reviews, news and social media. If AI gets your hours, address or services wrong, the cause is usually outdated or conflicting information somewhere. Fix the sources: update your Google profile, make your website's contact and services pages clear and current, correct old directory listings and close duplicate listings. Use each tool's feedback option (thumbs down or "report") to flag the error. Consistent, accurate information across the web is what AI repeats.

Customers increasingly ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity or Google's AI Mode things like "best dentist near me open on Sunday". If the AI's answer about you is wrong, you lose customers without knowing why (AI search for local business, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini recommendations).

Common AI mistakes about local businesses

• Saying you're permanently closed because an old listing says so (permanently closed fix).
• Old hours or prices from an outdated website or directory.
• Wrong address after a move (moved business).
• Mixing you up with a similarly named business (same-name confusion).
• Invented services based on your category.
• Recommending competitors with more and better information online.

Where AI tools get local information

• Google Business Profile data, used by Google's AI features and widely mirrored elsewhere.
• Your website: contact page, services, about, FAQ.
• Directories and listings: Justdial, IndiaMART, Bing Places, Apple Business, Mappls (Bing and Apple, Mappls).
• Reviews on Google and other platforms.
• News, blogs and social media.

Different AI tools use different sources and update at different speeds.

Step 1: fix your Google Business Profile

Make sure the name, address, phone, hours, special hours, categories, services and website link are correct and current (profile strength, hours wrong).

Step 2: make your website the clear source of truth

• A contact page with address, phone, hours and map (contact page, embed a map).
• Service pages that say clearly what you do and don't do (service page template).
• An FAQ answering common questions: "Are you open on Sunday?", "Do you deliver?" (FAQ schema).
• LocalBusiness schema with correct details (schema markup).
• Let AI crawlers access your site if you want to be cited (AI crawlers and robots.txt).

Step 3: clean up old listings

Correct or close outdated directory listings and duplicates on Google (citation audit and cleanup, duplicate listings, NAP citations).

Step 4: report the error in the AI tool

• ChatGPT and other chat tools: use thumbs down and explain the error.
• Google AI Overviews and AI Mode: use the feedback option on the answer.
• Perplexity and others: use the feedback or report option.

Feedback alone rarely fixes things quickly; fixing sources is more reliable.

Step 5: build clear, consistent signals

• Same name, address and phone everywhere.
• Regular Google posts and replies, showing you're active (post ideas calendar).
• Reviews that mention your services naturally (keywords in reviews).
• Mentions in local news or trusted sites (local PR).

See appear in ChatGPT answers and entity SEO.

Check what AI says about you

Once a month, ask a few AI tools:

• "Tell me about [Business name] in [area]."
• "Best [category] in [area] open on Sunday."
• "What are the opening hours of [Business name]?"

Note errors and trace their source.

How long fixes take

Google's own AI features usually reflect Business Profile updates fastest. Other tools may take weeks or months to refresh, depending on how often they update their sources.

Example: "permanently closed" in AI answers

A café that had moved across the road was described as "permanently closed" by an AI assistant. The old listing was marked closed rather than moved. After marking it "moved" to the new listing, updating the website and directories, AI answers began showing the new address over the following weeks.

Example: invented services

An AI tool said a skin clinic offered hair transplants. The clinic's website was vague. After adding clear service pages and an FAQ stating "We don't perform hair transplants", later AI answers became accurate.

Checklist

• Update Google Business Profile completely
• Clear website contact, services and FAQ pages
• Fix old directories and duplicates
• Report errors in AI tools
• Keep details consistent everywhere
• Check AI answers monthly

Key takeaways

• AI repeats the web; fix the sources.
• Google Business Profile and your website are the most important sources.
• Consistency across listings reduces AI mistakes.

Sources and further reading

• Google Search Central — AI features and your website: developers.google.com/search
• AI Overviews and local business visibility

Tracing the source of an AI error

When an AI tool states something wrong, search Google for the same wrong detail, such as the old phone number, the old address or "permanently closed" with your name. The pages that show it are usually the source. Common culprits are old Justdial or Sulekha listings, a previous website still online, a news article about your old location, or a Facebook page you forgot. Fix or remove each one, starting with the most prominent.

AI and local languages

Customers may ask AI in Hindi, Tamil or other languages. AI often translates information from English sources, so make sure your English details are correct first, then add local-language content on your website and profile to help AI answer natively (multilingual SEO).

Frequently asked questions

Why does ChatGPT say my shop is closed?

It's probably reading an old or closed listing somewhere.

Can I edit what AI says about me?

Not directly — fix your sources and send feedback.

How long until AI updates?

Google's AI often updates fastest; others may take weeks or months.

Does my website matter for AI?

Yes — it's a key source of accurate information.

Should I block AI crawlers?

Only if you don't want to be cited; blocking can reduce visibility.

How do I get AI to recommend me?

Accurate, consistent information, good reviews and clear content.