Mentions of local brands surge in Google smart search

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how Filipino consumers discover businesses online, with mentions of Philippine brands in Google’s AI Overviews increasing more than 23-fold in 2025, according to a study by digital marketing agency Truelogic.

The 12-month study tracked 80 brands across seven sectors, with retail, e-commerce and real estate recording the strongest growth in AI visibility.

During the same period, organic branded traffic across the monitored websites declined by three to eight percent, although researchers did not establish a direct link between the decline and increased AI exposure.

The findings suggest that businesses must adapt as consumers increasingly turn to AI-generated answers rather than traditional search results.

“Being found is no longer just about ranking for the right keywords,” said Truelogic managing partner Bernard San Juan III.

“AI is more likely to surface brands it can understand and trust,” he added.

Truelogic found that brands with stronger AI visibility generally had high search interest, structured website content and established online credibility.

The company also reported a 750 percent increase in AI visibility across 40 client projects from January to July 2025, compared with a 400 percent average across Philippine websites.

Citing the Digital 2026 report, Truelogic said 42.4 percent of surveyed Filipino internet users had used ChatGPT in the preceding month, placing the Philippines sixth globally.

To help businesses adjust, Truelogic and Certified Digital Marketer will hold a free webinar titled “Your Customers Are Asking AI. Is Your Brand Ready?” on 5 November 2026, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.