Regional AI Search Trends 2025: Which LLMs Dominate in Each Market
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The rise of AI assistants has fundamentally changed how people discover brands and information online. Unlike traditional search, which was globally unified around Google, AI search is now fragmented across multiple assistants—each with its own regional strengths and user preferences.
Understanding which LLM dominates in your target markets is no longer optional. It's essential for allocating marketing resources effectively and ensuring your brand appears in the right AI-generated answers, in the right regions.
With Ceyo's GEO analytics, you can track exactly where your AI traffic comes from, which assistants drive it, and how regional trends affect your visibility.
The new geography of AI discovery
Traditional search used to be simple: optimize for Google, and you'd reach most of the world. But AI search has introduced a new layer of complexity. Different regions now favor different AI assistants based on:
- Language support and localization
- Integration with local platforms and devices
- Regulatory environments and data privacy laws
- Cultural preferences for information discovery
- Market maturity and early adopter behavior
This fragmentation means that a brand ranking well in ChatGPT's responses in the US might be invisible in Gemini's answers in Europe, or completely absent from Perplexity's results in Asia-Pacific.
The key insight: AI visibility is now regional, not global.
Global overview – The shift from search to answers
Globally, we're witnessing a massive shift from traditional search queries to conversational AI interactions. Users are increasingly asking AI assistants for recommendations, comparisons, and detailed explanations—rather than clicking through search results.
Here's how the major AI assistants are performing globally:
- ChatGPT leads in global awareness and general consumer use, with the highest brand recognition across all demographics
- Perplexity is particularly strong among professionals, researchers, and knowledge workers who value cited sources
- Gemini dominates in Google-integrated markets, benefiting from Android and Chrome distribution
- Bing Copilot sees steady growth through Microsoft's enterprise ecosystem and Windows integration
- Grok shows early traction in social discovery, particularly among X (Twitter) users
But these global trends mask significant regional variations.
Regional breakdown – Who leads where
North America
ChatGPT remains the dominant AI assistant across the United States and Canada, with the highest usage rates for both consumer and business applications. However, the landscape is evolving:
- Gemini is gaining market share rapidly due to its deep integration with Android devices and Chrome browser
- Perplexity adoption is growing fast among knowledge workers, particularly in tech hubs like San Francisco, Seattle, and Austin
- Bing Copilot has a strong presence in enterprise environments through Microsoft 365 integration
For brands targeting North American audiences, maintaining visibility across all three major assistants (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity) is becoming essential.
Europe
Europe shows a more fragmented AI assistant landscape, with strong regional preferences:
- ChatGPT and Perplexity share leadership, with Perplexity particularly strong in Northern Europe
- Germany and the Netherlands show exceptionally high Perplexity adoption for research and professional use
- Gemini benefits from EU localization efforts and GDPR-compliant data handling
- France and Spain show higher ChatGPT usage, while UK markets are more evenly split
The European market's emphasis on data privacy and source transparency has made Perplexity's citation-based approach particularly appealing to European users.
Asia-Pacific
The Asia-Pacific region presents the most diverse AI assistant ecosystem:
- Gemini shows strong presence in markets with high Android penetration (India, Indonesia, Philippines)
- Regional models like Baidu Ernie dominate in China due to regulatory requirements
- Claude has gained significant traction in Japan and South Korea among professional users
- ChatGPT maintains leadership in Australia and New Zealand
AI adoption in APAC is closely linked to language support and regulatory context, making localization critical for brand visibility.
Latin America and Africa
In emerging markets, ChatGPT remains dominant due to its early market entry and accessibility:
- High mobile usage favors assistants with strong mobile experiences
- Regional models are starting to emerge through local partnerships and language support
- WhatsApp and messaging platform integration is becoming a key distribution channel
- Cost and accessibility remain primary factors in assistant adoption
Why these differences matter for marketers
Understanding regional LLM preferences isn't just interesting—it's strategically critical. Here's why:
Each LLM has different data sources and biases. ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity pull from different knowledge bases and prioritize different types of content. A brand that ranks well in one assistant's responses might be completely absent from another's.
Visibility in one assistant does not guarantee visibility in another. Your brand might dominate ChatGPT's recommendations in the US but be invisible in Gemini's answers in Europe. Regional optimization requires understanding which assistants matter in each market.
Regional ranking in AI answers can vary widely even for global brands. A multinational company might find that its US headquarters appears prominently in North American AI responses, while its European offices are rarely mentioned in European markets—even when they're more relevant to local users.
GEO analytics show where to focus localization or data enrichment. By tracking which regions drive AI traffic and which assistants they use, you can prioritize content optimization efforts where they'll have the most impact.
How to track your own LLM visibility by region
Understanding these trends is valuable, but knowing your own regional AI visibility is essential. Here's how to get started with Ceyo's GEO analytics:
- Connect your Google Analytics property to Ceyo to start tracking AI-driven traffic
- Identify sessions and users coming from AI assistants across different regions
- View traffic breakdown by country and LLM to understand regional preferences
- Monitor shifts in share over time to catch emerging trends early
- Combine with AEO data for a complete picture of your AI visibility
This data reveals not just where your AI traffic comes from, but which assistants drive it in each region—allowing you to optimize your content strategy for maximum regional impact.
Preparing for 2026 – Localization for AI assistants
As we look toward 2026, regional AI assistant preferences will likely become even more pronounced. Brands that start optimizing now will have a significant advantage:
Ensure local language support in structured content. AI assistants prioritize content that matches the user's language and regional context. This goes beyond simple translation—it requires culturally appropriate examples, local references, and region-specific data.
Keep region-specific facts and product data up to date. AI assistants pull from various sources to answer questions. Ensure your regional websites, local business listings, and market-specific content are current and comprehensive.
Track emerging regional assistants. New AI assistants are launching regularly, often with strong regional focus. Early optimization for emerging assistants can provide first-mover advantages in specific markets.
Optimize for regional search patterns. Different regions have different ways of asking questions and seeking information. Understanding these patterns helps you create content that AI assistants will surface for regional queries.
The power of GEO insights
Traditional analytics tell you where your website visitors come from. But they don't tell you which AI assistants are driving that traffic, or how your visibility varies across different LLMs in different regions.
GEO analytics close this visibility gap, giving you the insights needed to:
- Allocate marketing budgets to the regions and assistants that matter most
- Prioritize content optimization for the LLMs your target audience actually uses
- Identify growth opportunities in regions where competitors haven't optimized yet
- Track the ROI of your AI visibility efforts by region and assistant
The future of brand discovery is regional, conversational, and AI-driven. The brands that understand these regional dynamics—and optimize accordingly—will dominate AI-generated recommendations in their target markets.
Ready to see where your AI traffic really comes from?
👉 Connect your Google Analytics property to Ceyo and discover your regional LLM visibility today.
