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James Dooley Podcast
James Dooley Podcast

How AI Recommends Businesses in 2026 (James Dooley Interviews Jason Barnard)

03 February 2026 10:47 James Dooley

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About this episode

In this episode, James Dooley speaks with Jason Barnard about how AI recommends businesses in 2026 and why being visible is no longer enough. The discussion breaks down how large language models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity decide which businesses to recommend, and why this process is fundamentally different from traditional Google rankings.

Jason explains the shift from answer engine optimisation to AI assistive engine optimisation, and why generative optimisation is already outdated. The conversation covers passages versus pages, cascading queries, trust signals, and why AI prefers to answer from memory rather than search results. They also explore the difference between being found and being recommended, the role of first-party and third-party corroboration, and how small businesses and tradesmen can still compete with major brands by niching down.

This episode is essential viewing for solopreneurs, business owners, and marketers who want to understand how AI systems evaluate credibility, authority, and relevance, and how to position a brand to win recommendations at the moment decisions are made.

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