What Changed
Google has expanded its agentic restaurant booking feature through AI Mode to a global audience, eliminating the need for a Google AI Ultra subscription. This update enables users to book restaurants directly through Search by entering a query with specifications on their choice of restaurant, party, and time. The process involves clicking on a time slot, which opens a ‘Reserve with Google’ panel, allowing users to make their selections through a partner like OpenTable or SevenRooms.
Why This Matters for GEO
The expansion of agentic restaurant booking in AI Mode matters for GEO as it demonstrates the rapid evolution of agentic search. As users become accustomed to streamlined booking processes, businesses that don’t offer this functionality may be less likely to be considered. This update also highlights the importance of optimizing content for AI systems to ensure visibility and accessibility. With other players like ChatGPT and Bing developing their own agentic protocols, the growth of agentic search is inevitable.
What To Do
To optimize for the agentic era, follow these steps: 1. Ensure AI crawlers can access your site: Use tools like Semrush’s Site Audit or Bot Analytics to verify that AI crawlers can access important pages on your website. 2. Write AI-parsable content: Create clear, well-structured content that AI systems can easily understand and extract. 3. Establish entity consistency: Develop a list of relevant entities for your brand and incorporate them across your owned properties to establish your identity. 4. Manage brand visibility: Gain brand mentions and backlinks from authoritative sources, engage in community conversations, and get reviews on relevant platforms to provide a comprehensive narrative to AI tools. 5. Track AI visibility: Use tools like the AI Visibility Toolkit or Enterprise AIO to compare your visibility to competitors and identify areas for improvement.