# ChatGPT, Gemini use different location signals, study finds

Published: 2026-10-20T03:48:36.801Z · Source: arXiv GEO (https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.24081v1)
Source date: 2026-10-16
Entities: chatgpt, gemini

A controlled audit asked ChatGPT 300 questions across 19 declared locations, and asked both ChatGPT and Gemini from five network locations, collecting 31,200 answers to measure run-to-run noise. ChatGPT follows the location an app declares down to the city — writing the place into its own searches and localizing results even for questions that don't mention a place — while ignoring network location entirely. Gemini does the opposite: it ignores declared location and follows the country tied to the network, changing most of its cited sources even for location-agnostic questions. The businesses the answers recommend change along with the sources, per the authors.

Why it matters: A GEO audit run from one location is measuring a result that will differ for other users, since the two engines pull their location signal from different channels and change their cited sources and business recommendations accordingly.

## What this answers

**Does my location change what AI search engines cite?**

Yes. A controlled audit of 300 questions found ChatGPT localizes results using the location an app declares, down to the city, while Gemini instead follows the country tied to the network connection.

**Do ChatGPT and Gemini use the same location signal?**

No — the audit found ChatGPT reads declared (app) location and ignores the network, while Gemini does the opposite, reading network location and ignoring what's declared.


Canonical: https://anythingengineoptimization.com/item/2026-10-20-chatgpt-gemini-use-different-location-signals-study-finds/
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