Google Maps just got smarter. The company announced that Maps will get a new Gemini-powered ‘Ask Maps’ feature that makes the UX more conversational. This is just the latest in a sequence of updates that bring more AI to Google Maps, and the latest development in the ongoing mapping wars.
Vcita is out this week with a new report that validates and further quantifies what we’ve largely observed and suspected: SMBs want automation. Known as the 2026 Small Business Adoption Report, it points to heightened demand levels for anything that can help SMBs automate marketing and operations.
New research from Scorpion reveals a widening AI adoption gap between consumers and small businesses—raising urgent questions about local discovery, visibility, and marketing readiness.
The last two years of AI’s rise have been scored by a chorus of punditry that goes something like: “AI is here, and it changes everything.” It’s a familiar tune in hype cycles that eventually morphs into “XYZ will change some things.” So jumping ahead, it’s a question of where AI works… and where it doesn’t.
New research from Yext reveals the inner workings of the AI engines increasingly used by consumers in place of traditional search. Though this usage continues to grow, the rules of engagement for companies seeking visibility remain unclear. But according to Yext, AI SEO may be harder than it looks.
AI continues to morph into new forms and flavors as the enterprise software world figures out where it sticks. SMB SaaS is a subset or microcosm of that equation as AI is being applied to everything from email marketing to SEO gruntwork. The latest trend we’ve encountered is automated lead response.
As Google continues to flex its muscles with Gemini, the latest search product getting an AI infusion is mapping and navigation. By bringing Gemini to Google Maps, users can have conversational dialogues, a la AI Mode, as they’re out shopping or looking for something to eat in a new neighborhood.
Among the many angles surrounding the AI discussion these days, one that’s seldom discussed is how the technology is integrated into a given organization. We’re not talking about product integrations – though that’s closely related – but rather AI’s integration into company culture.
Expanding from the AI receptionist that it launched back in August, and the marketing agent it rolled out just a few weeks ago, Vendasta is out with its latest AI employee: a reputation management specialist.
Amazon recently showed its hand with respect to local commerce. It will launch apps within Alexa+ for local commerce staples, such as Angi, Square, Yelp, OpenTable, and Thumbtack.
A new data dump from Digiday has begun to quantify AI’s zero-click effect. The short version is that there’s good news and bad news. The net result is likely negative for anyone relying on referral traffic… but it’s also an opportunity for AI SEO early movers.
Yext this week hosted a who’s who of search experts, including Local SEO Guide’s Andrew Shotland, Sterling Sky’s Joy Hawkins, and Search Lab’s Greg Gifford. These are some of the biggest hitters in local SEO and we have the summarized takeaways.
Expanding from the AI receptionist Vendasta launched back in August, Custom AI Employees now join its arsenal. These functions are housed in Vendasta’s AI Customer Acquisition and Engagement Platform, automating various aspects of SMB operations.
In the whole “AI is eating the world” progression, the latest thing to be swallowed is shopping. The thought is that you can do all your shopping end-to-end within your AI engine of choice – from research to price comparisons to transactions. We round up the latest market moves.
Gemini’s integrations in Google Maps have ratcheted up with a more conversational interface that can be best described as an in-route concierge. While driving, users can do things like ask Gemini about places of interest along their route, or any other specific urges.
The latest product in the prolific Google Labs does just this. Known as Pompelli, the joint effort from Google Labs and DeepMind automatically assembles ad campaign creative assets like banner ads. Like several multi-step agentic AI tools that are developing, it turns detailed prompts into action and output.
MB-Saas powerhouse Thryv has launched a growth marketing engine for Home Services businesses to scale. To achieve this, it inherits Thryv’s latest AI and automation capabilities and packages them up in a set of marketing tools purpose-built for the specific challenges of the home services vertical.
A new report from LexisNexis quantifies the pace of AI adoption among tax pros. For example, 64 percent of tax pros use AI in their day-to-day operations, up from 40 percent in February.
ShelfOptix specializes in a field that it has coined “shelf intelligence.” it scans store shelves to digitize physical-world data and create digital twins of retail store aisles where logistical insights can then flow
ChatGPTs new shopping functionality lets users research and buy products without leaving the app. Now the program is emboldened with the addition of Walmart. We examine strategic implications.
