While artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into search engines, many small businesses, especially restaurants, are falling into a situation of tears and laughter due to misinformation.
The problem does not lie in the quality of food or services, but comes from the information created by AI chatbots, leading to confusion for customers and damage to the restaurant itself.
A recent story at Stefaninas, a family pizza restaurant in Montana (USA), is a typical example.
According to First Alert 4 channel, Google Search has automatically displayed unprecedented "special promotions", such as discounted pizza combos or attractive lunch incentives.
As a result, many diners come and hold their phones asking for promotional dishes that the staff were completely unaware of.
In response to customers' frustration, the restaurant owner had to post a notice on Facebook, affirming that only information from the official website and social networks is reliable.
The phenomenon of AI creating geography, fabricating details and turning them into screen truths does not only happen in the US.
This is a global problem as billions of people use AI search engines to find restaurants, book tables or plan meals.
Not only the culinary industry, a solar energy company in Minnesota has even sued Google, accusing the AI tool of fabricating false information related to their legal history.
The biggest risk lies in customers' absolute trust in what AI displays, while accuracy is not guaranteed.
For small businesses, especially in quiet towns, where trust and word of mouth are the core, these misunderstandings have a serious impact on reputation.
In the context of Google continuing to strongly promote AI search and chat features, customers are encouraged to just ask Google before dinner or going out. But convenience sometimes comes with risks.
Restaurants and businesses are learning how to protect themselves, proactively update official information and warn customers.
Because a virtual promotion may be just a technical error, but the real result is a broken trust, the most valuable asset for every business.
