AI vs. Google: How Carroll County, Georgia Residents Search in 2026 According to New CraigAds Study
Sep 4, 2026
The survey reveals local services consumers aren’t swapping out Google for AI as much as headlines might suggest because each tool serves a unique purpose.
Georgia, United States, September 4, 2026 -- A CraigAds field study has revealed that consumers aren’t abandoning Google for AI when making purchasing decisions as much as many news stories might suppose. Instead, they’re leveraging both tools, using AI to think through what they need, and then Google to find and contact relevant local services in their area.
CraigAds surveyed West Georgia residents face-to-face in July 2026. The 62-person survey generated 5,828 local-search answers across 94 real decisions. The findings were clear: consumers aren't switching from Google to AI. Rather, they use AI to think through a need and Google to verify, find, and contact a local business.
"The real question isn't Google versus AI. It's which door people walk through first," said Craig Mcilvain, founder of CraigAds.
The study delivered several findings. The first was that the more decision-making a purchase requires, the more people rely on AI. Beauty was the most AI-searched category (24.2%) because those decisions demand comparison and differentiation — products, styles, providers — and AI is built for compare-and-contrast conversation. Meanwhile, plumbing emergencies generated opposite results. In these cases, consumers need to solve problems fast, so they go straight to Google Maps (AI searches were only 6.5% in this category) to find help.
"A burst pipe is not a conversation," Craig explained.
Another finding was that business owners are adopting AI significantly faster than everyday consumers. CraigAds field study found that local owners run inventory, scheduling, emails, and marketing through AI, while their customers still take a cursory approach.
Interestingly, rural Georgia is not significantly behind national trends. In Carroll County, 85.5% of residents have used AI to learn more about local services, and 59.7% use it daily or weekly, further evidence the technology is disseminating widely.
However, data still points to Google remaining critical for purchasing decisions. For example, the search engine captures 58.1% of leads for "your roof is leaking" and up to 74.9% for "roofing company."
Craig's own life runs ~90% AI — but local is 90% Google Maps.
"My own behavior confirms our own study," he says.
However, Craig is keen to point out that the 62-person study was small, so further research is necessary. He predicts that Google’s share of the local services search market will fall in coming years, but perhaps not as significantly as some headlines suggest.
For more information about CraigAds, use the contact details below.
Contact Info:
Name: Craig Mcilvain
Email: Send Email
Organization: CraigAds
Address: 402 Adamson Square #2 Carrollton GA 30117
Phone: 770-406-6101
Website: http://craigads.com
Release ID: 89202120
In case of identifying any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within the content shared in this press release that necessitate action or if you require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our expert team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions diligently to rectify any identified issues or supporting you with the removal process. Delivering accurate and reliable information remains our top priority.
More News
The Festival of Connoisseurs, Debuts in November - Hong Kong
Informa Markets today announced that The Festival of Connoisseurs (TFOC) will make its debut in Hong Kong from 4 to 6 November 2026 at AsiaWorld-Expo, as the first international flagship exhibition supported by Government funding. As announced in this year’s Policy Address and the Budget, the Government has earmarked HK$100 million to attract large-scale international exhibitions with new elements to Hong Kong, with a view to developing Hong Kong into the first-choice platform for showcasing Mainland and international brands.
The 2027 Virtuoso Luxe Report United Kingdom & Ireland: Japan Claims the No. 1 Spot
Virtuoso, the leading global network renowned for luxury and experiential travel, is uniquely positioned to identify the trends influencing how, where and why people will venture in the year ahead. The Virtuoso Luxe Report: United Kingdom & Ireland once again taps the collective knowledge of the network’s esteemed travel agency members and their teams of professional travel advisors to reveal what’s next for the region’s savviest globetrotters. Japan unseats Greece as the most requested international destination, and Thailand makes its top five debut, giving Asia a stronger foothold among established European favourites.
FORGET THE ALPS: JAPAN IS CALLING
Japan continues to attract British travellers seeking alternatives to Europe’s crowded ski slopes and Hoshino Resorts is spotlighting some of the country’s most rewarding winter destinations for the 2026/27 ski season – from the legendary powder snow of Hokkaido to the lesser-known mountains of Tohoku, where the new KAI Zao has recently opened. Unlike many ski holidays centred solely around the slopes, a winter trip to Japan can combine mountain adventure with hot spring bathing, regional gastronomy, ancient traditions and cultural discovery.
Save up to £2,000pp on six of Titan’s escorted tours in the new Adventure Sale!
For a limited time only, the escorted touring specialist, Titan Travel (titantravel.co.uk, 0808 239 3496), is offering travellers savings of up to £2,000pp* across six of its favourite escorted tours in its new Adventure Sale. Titan has announced huge savings across six of its tours, spanning Asia, the Americas and Europe, carefully selected by its destination experts. Filled with adventure and authentic experiences, travellers can discover more for less on new bookings made before 13 November 2026.
Travel influencer reveals five clever tricks to squeeze more out of your next city break
A travel influencer has revealed five surprisingly simple tricks to squeeze more out of a city break, without spending a penny extra. Nesha Woolery, 32, known online as @travelwithnesha_ from Birmingham, says a handful of clever habits can save travellers precious time, leaving them free to explore more, see more and make the most of every minute away.
Glassmaker Maximilian Riedel on His Travel Tips, and Not Drinking When Flying
Work takes Austrian glassmaker Maximilian Riedel all around the globe. His surprising hot take? Don’t drink when flying… The post Glassmaker Maximilian Riedel on His Travel Tips, and Not Drinking When Flying appeared first on Business Traveller.
Hong Kong pianist John Lee does justice to Rachmaninov and more despite dry acoustics
The marketing of classical music concerts has increasingly focused on the musician rather than the music, with the often ephemeral cult of personality perceived as more valuable than the notes they play, at least in drawing an audience. So, it was refreshing to hear the fine young musician John Lee play. After studying at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where he is now a member of the faculty, Lee earned a master’s degree from the Royal College of Music in London with distinction and...
'No one is safe' as Ebola outbreak surges to more than 10,000 cases, Africa's top doctor warns Canada
Africa's top doctor, who has called Canada home since 2013, tells CBC News there could be "massive" cross-border spread of Ebola in the months ahead as he calls for more international support.
Why GLP-1 users’ impact on food-inspired fragrance market is nothing to sniff at
From cherry and banoffee pie to Tabasco and sesame, the list of food aromas popping up in luxury fragrances keeps growing. Now some perfume makers are starting to ask if weight-loss drugs might be reshaping what consumers want in a scent. So-called gourmand fragrances like Thierry Mugler’s pioneering candyfloss-inspired Angel and Nina Ricci’s toffee apple scent Nina have been around for decades. More recent growth in the segment has been attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic-era boom in online...
Autumn in Beijing, with more than leaves on the agenda
Autumn in Beijing, with more than leaves on the agenda
Non-Americans Are Sharing The Misconceptions They Had About The US Before Visiting, And I'm Laughing At A Lot Of These
"You can get a flu shot, a bottle of tequila, a Snickers bar, and pizza pockets all in the same place." View Entire Post ›
38 Travel Products To Pick Up NOW So You Aren’t In A Pinch Two Days Before Your Departure
Because spending an exorbitant amount of money on a universal adapter at the airport is NOT the vibe. View Entire Post ›
Recommended
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.