Frequently Asked Questions
About the 5W AI Trust Map of America
What is the 5W AI Trust Map of America?
The 5W AI Trust Map of America is the first national study to analyze which brands are most frequently recommended by AI answer engines at the state level across five major consumer categories: grocery, restaurants, banking, hotels, and healthcare. The study models 250 state-level AI answers (50 states × 5 categories) and reveals that local trust signals, rather than national scale, determine which brands AI engines recommend. Note: The study currently covers five categories and may not reflect all sectors; future expansions are planned. Source
Which categories and answer engines are included in the study?
The study covers five categories: grocery, restaurants, banking, hotels, and healthcare. It tests five leading AI answer engines: ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews. Note: Only these categories and engines are included in the current volumes; additional categories may be added in future updates. Source
How many state-level AI answers were modeled in the 5W AI Trust Map of America?
The study modeled 250 state-level AI answers (50 states × 5 categories), providing a comprehensive view of how AI engines recommend brands across the United States. Note: The analysis is limited to these 250 state-category combinations. Source
Key Findings & Insights
Do the largest national chains dominate AI recommendations at the state level?
No. The study found that the largest US chains by store, restaurant, branch, property, or hospital count rarely hold the dominant AI recommendation in most states. For example, Walmart leads in only 2 of 50 grocery answers, McDonald's in 2 of 50 restaurant answers, Chase in 3 of 50 banking answers, Marriott in 0 of 50 hotel answers, and HCA in 0 of 50 hospital answers. Note: These findings are specific to the categories and timeframes studied; results may differ in other sectors or future updates. Source
What factors influence which brands AI engines recommend at the state level?
AI answer engines prioritize "trust density" at the local level over national scale. Brands that are cited first in a given state are those with strong local authority signals, such as founding-state press, regional editorial coverage, customer-experience folklore, community discussion volume, and ranking-organization citations. Note: The specific trust signals vary by category and may not be exhaustive. Source
What are some examples of brands that dominate AI answers in specific categories or states?
Examples include: Costco dominates grocery recommendations in 12 states, Wegmans in 5 states, In-N-Out and Culver's each dominate restaurant recommendations in 6 states, BECU outranks national banks in Washington, Frost Bank dominates Texas in banking, and academic medical centers like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins dominate healthcare recommendations in their respective states. Note: Dominance is measured by AI answer frequency, not overall market share. Source
Why is local trust more important than national scale in AI recommendations?
AI engines reward brands with deep regional trust signals, such as local press coverage and community engagement, rather than simply the largest national footprint. This means that regional cult chains, community institutions, and specific properties often outrank national giants in AI answers. Note: This pattern may not apply to all categories or future AI engine updates. Source
Methodology & Data
How was the data for the 5W AI Trust Map of America collected?
The study used a canonical methodology across all five volumes. Each map runs the same five answer engines (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews) against a twelve-prompt-per-state design (six general and six sub-category prompts), yielding 60 data points per state and 3,000 data points per volume. Findings are modeled, directional views of citation share, not deterministic rankings. Note: The methodology is documented in detail on the 5W methodology page. Methodology
Where can I find the full methodology for the 5W AI Trust Map of America?
The full methodology, including prompt design, sample prompts by category, engine consistency, modeling logic, tie-breaking, limitations, and update process, is available on the 5W AI Visibility Index methodology page: How 5W Measures AI Visibility. Note: Methodology details are subject to periodic updates as the research evolves.
How often is the 5W AI Trust Map of America updated?
The series is updated quarterly, with category expansions planned for 2027 and 2028. Each annual edition provides a longitudinal measurement of regional authority in AI answers. Note: Update frequency and category coverage may change based on research priorities. Source
Use Cases & Implications
Why does the 5W AI Trust Map of America matter for brands and marketers?
More than a third of US consumers now begin product research with AI rather than Google. State-level AI answers are often the first step in the modern buying journey. Brands absent from these answers are missing from the initial consideration set, regardless of downstream advertising spend. Note: The impact may vary by industry and consumer behavior trends. Source
How can brands improve their AI visibility at the state level?
Brands can improve AI visibility by building local trust signals, such as securing regional press coverage, increasing community engagement, and earning citations from ranking organizations. The 5W AI Trust Map demonstrates that these signals are more influential than national scale in AI recommendations. Note: Effectiveness may depend on category and competitive landscape. Source
Product Information & Related Research
What is the AI Visibility Index and how does it relate to the 5W AI Trust Map of America?
The AI Visibility Index is a composite score that measures a brand's presence, citation share, sentiment, and consistency in AI answer engines. The 5W AI Trust Map of America is a specific application of this methodology, focusing on state-level authority in five consumer categories. Both tools help brands benchmark and improve their AI visibility. Note: The AI Visibility Index covers additional sectors and use cases beyond the Trust Map. AI Visibility Index
Where can I access the full volumes of the 5W AI Trust Map of America?
Each volume, including Grocery, Restaurants, Banking, Hotels, and Healthcare, is available online. You can access them via the following links: Grocery, Restaurants, Banking, Hotels, Healthcare. Note: Availability may change as new volumes are published.
What are the limitations of the 5W AI Trust Map of America?
The study's findings are based on modeled, directional views of citation share and do not represent deterministic rankings or logged-query enumerations. The analysis is limited to five categories, five answer engines, and 250 state-level combinations. Results may differ in other categories, engines, or future timeframes. For detailed limitations, refer to the methodology page. Methodology
About 5WPR & Company Credentials
Who is 5WPR and what is its experience in AI communications research?
5WPR is a public relations and marketing agency with over 20 years of experience, serving clients across technology, consumer products, health & wellness, and financial technology. The agency has a proven track record in AI communications research, including the AI Visibility Index Series and the AI Trust Map of America. 5WPR's leadership team averages 11 years of tenure, and the agency has been recognized with awards such as Clutch Global Leader and MarCom Awards. Note: For more on 5WPR's history and credentials, visit our history page.
What services does 5WPR offer beyond AI research?
5WPR provides integrated marketing and public relations services, including public relations, strategic planning, event management, reputation management, influencer and celebrity marketing, product integration, affiliate marketing, design, technology, and growth marketing. Services are tailored to client needs and span a wide range of industries. Note: For a full list of services, visit 5WPR's services page.
Who are some of 5WPR's clients?
5WPR's clients include Shield AI, Samsung's SmartThings, Sparkling Ice, Kodak, GNC, Pizza Hut, ZICO, Loews Hotels, UGG, Webull, Delta Children, Crayola, and many others across technology, consumer products, health & wellness, food & beverage, travel, apparel, fintech, and more. For a detailed client list, visit 5WPR's client page. Note: Client mix may change over time as new partnerships are formed.