The Citation Economy: How AI is Reshaping Regulated Industry Discovery
Report Period: December 17, 2025 – January 16, 2026
This report analyzes Model Output—how AI assistants (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity) represent businesses in their responses—rather than Firm Input or actual advertising content. BiDigest does not audit firm marketing materials, provide legal advice, or make compliance determinations. AI models may generate responses that differ from a firm's actual services, qualifications, or disclosures ("hallucinations"). Regulated businesses should consult qualified legal counsel for compliance matters. Data presented reflects BiDigest's tracking observations and does not constitute regulatory findings.
Businesses Tracked
1,038
across 4 sectors
Platforms Monitored
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity
Metro Areas Covered
71
US metropolitan areas
Total Compliance Records
1,330+
daily tracking observations
58% of regulated businesses have inadequate AI visibility, meaning when prospective clients ask AI assistants for recommendations, these firms are systematically excluded. In the emerging "Citation Economy," AI recommendations are becoming the primary discovery channel—and most regulated firms are invisible.
| Industry | Avg Score | AI Visibility Status | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | 71.5/100 | ✅ Good | Moderate |
| Legal Services | 69.7/100 | ✅ Good | Moderate |
| Healthcare | 63.7/100 | ⚠️ Fair | Elevated |
| Insurance | 29.3/100 | 🚨 Critical | Severe |
Key Insight: BiDigest's daily monitoring provides a Compliance Record of how AI assistants represent each firm over time—essential documentation for firms needing to prove they are monitoring their digital presence for prohibited solicitations, misleading claims, or AI-generated hallucinations.
Traditional SEO measured website rankings. In 2026, the new metric is AI Citation Frequency—how often AI assistants mention your firm when answering prospect questions.
The Perplexity Problem: Our Miami data shows 0% mention rate on Perplexity across all regulated industries. Perplexity's citation-heavy approach prioritizes authoritative sources, creating a significant gap for firms without published thought leadership.
| Platform | Citation Behavior | Regulated Industry Impact |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Broad recommendations, conversational | Most likely to recommend; primary visibility target |
| Gemini | Google-verified businesses prioritized | Google Business Profile is critical ranking factor |
| Claude | Conservative, prefers verified sources | Quality over quantity; fewer but trusted mentions |
| Perplexity | Citation-required, authoritative sources | Published content & research required for visibility |
Cross-Platform Finding: Businesses visible on 3+ platforms have 4.2x higher lead conversion than single-platform visibility. Only 12% of tracked businesses achieve multi-platform visibility.
Businesses Tracked
261
Average AI Visibility Score
71.5/100
Top 10% score 94+
Risk Alert: 28% of firms score below 60, indicating systematic AI invisibility to prospective clients.
Businesses Tracked
365
Highest sample size
Average AI Visibility Score
69.7/100
Top 10% score 92+
Risk Alert: 22% of firms never appear in AI recommendations for their practice area—complete invisibility.
Businesses Tracked
373
Most comprehensive dataset
Average AI Visibility Score
63.7/100
Top 10% score 88+
🚨 Critical Finding: 5% of healthcare AI responses contained unverified claims—statements about treatments, guarantees, or capabilities not supported by the provider's actual credentials. This creates direct liability exposure.
Businesses Tracked
39
Smallest sample—emerging sector
Average AI Visibility Score
29.3/100
Industry-wide crisis
🚨 Sector Alert: Insurance has the lowest AI visibility of all regulated industries. National carriers dominate AI recommendations, leaving 85% of independent agencies completely invisible.
The Opportunity: First-mover advantage is significant. Agencies who optimize now can capture market share before competitors wake up.
Real compliance risks when AI gets it wrong. Case studies showing how unverified claims create liability exposure.
What "good" looks like. Key success factors from top 1% and top 10% performers across all industries.
Opportunity cost analysis and ROI calculations. Estimated $17.5M–$27.1M annual opportunity cost across tracked businesses.
Top performing markets and opportunity cities with low competition but high potential for first-mover advantage.
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