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Technology · AI Perceptions snapshot

AI assistants default to Google when asked about tech, with Apple and Microsoft behind it.

Across questions that never named a company, the assistants kept returning to the same handful of large brands. Press volume and AI visibility did not line up, and the gap matters most for brands whose coverage is about safety and legal exposure.

  • Google
  • Apple
  • Microsoft
  • Amazon
  • Meta
  • Samsung
  • TikTok
  • IBM
  • Salesforce
  • Adobe
  • Dell Technologies
  • Oracle
  • HP
  • Intel
  • Qualcomm

Measured September 29, 2026ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Grok250 questions · 1,250 answers

Named most in these answers

See the evidence

Measured
September 29, 2026
Assistants
5
Questions
250
Answers
1,250
Brands
15
Named most
Google · 65%95% range 62–68%

Storylines in the answers

The threads the answers kept returning to, and the brands attached to each.

  1. Google as the default reference across topics
  2. Employer and workplace questions
  3. Distrust, privacy and avoid-and-risk framing
  4. Specialist questions surface specialist names

What the assistants say

This is a snapshot from 29 September 2026: 250 technology questions put to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Grok, for 1,250 answers in total. None of the questions named a brand. The answers treat "tech company" as a short list of familiar names. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta carry most of the storylines, whether the question is about innovation, privacy, employers or AI ethics.

The assistants often decline to crown a winner. Perplexity's environmental answer said results depend on how the term is defined, and several answers on stock pay, honesty and facial recognition said there was no single ranking. They still named the same brands while giving that caveat. Google and Apple were named as the reference points for ecosystem and compatibility questions, and Microsoft, Google and Amazon for employer questions.

Trust and risk questions produced a different cast. Meta and TikTok appear in answers about distrust and avoidance. Claude's answer on trust cited survey figures placing TikTok lowest, and its messaging answer said WhatsApp collects extensive metadata that flows to Meta. These are the answers' own framings, attributed to them.

Google (Alphabet) currently faces the most antitrust scrutiny among major technology companies.
Grok, answering “Which technology company faces the most antitrust scrutiny?”

Who owns the answer, and why

Google was named in 813 of the 1,250 answers, Apple in 566, Microsoft in 528, Amazon in 435 and Meta in 361. Google was the most-named brand in most question groups, including innovation, safety and security, sustainability and ethics, privacy, and ecosystem compatibility. Apple led on customer service, and Microsoft narrowly led on employer and workplace questions. Grok named Google most often (201 of its 250 answers) and Perplexity least (136).

The credit is broad rather than specific. For every large brand, the most common tag was "Not Substantive", meaning a name in a list rather than a reason to be there. Where a theme was credited, Google's largest tag was Safety & Compliance and Microsoft's was Labour & Workplace. Those counts are small, so read them as texture, not a ranking.

Specific questions pull in specific names. Grok's answer on training-data transparency credited IBM, citing the Foundation Model Transparency Index. Answers on AI chips and market value named Nvidia in their text, though it is not in the measured brand set. Intel was named in 33 answers and Qualcomm in 9.

IBM (with its Granite models) stands out as the most transparent AI company on training data disclosure…
Grok, answering “What's the most transparent AI company when it comes to disclosing training data?”

What the press is covering

In the PeakMetrics news index over the past 30 days, Google had about 700,000 mentions and Microsoft about 149,000. Amazon had about 103,000, Samsung about 67,000, Apple about 65,000 and Meta about 63,000. TikTok had about 224,000, more than Microsoft, Amazon, Apple or Meta.

Much of Google's volume looks incidental. Its recent headlines include a Google Sheets item, a freelance listing and a Maps naming story. Apple's coverage is concentrated: about 25,000 of its mentions carry the brand in the headline, and its recent headlines center on a CEO succession and an AI transition.

Meta and TikTok headlines are about teen safety. One recent Meta headline concerned a large settlement requiring restrictions for teens on Instagram and Facebook, and TikTok headlines described state settlements over teen safety claims. Amazon's recent headlines included a cargo plane incident at Miami airport and shopping promotions. Oracle's included EU antitrust scrutiny and job cuts, and IBM's included workforce reductions.

There isn’t one definitive ranking: results depend on whether “environmental record” means renewable electricity, emissions across the supply chain, product design, or transparency.
Perplexity, answering “Which big tech companies have the best environmental record?”

Where the two stories diverge

TikTok is the clearest gap. Its press volume is large, but it appeared in only 101 of the 1,250 answers, mostly in trust and social platform questions. The news narrative is about settlements and child safety. The answers mention TikTok mainly through distrust survey figures and platform comparisons.

Apple's press is about leadership change, while the answers place Apple in ecosystem, support and device durability questions. Grok's in-person support answer cited PCMag rankings when naming Apple. Nothing in the sampled answers turned on the succession story.

Google runs the other way. It is the most-named brand and its coverage is large, but the answers use it as a default reference more than as the subject of a distinct storyline. The exception is antitrust: ChatGPT and Grok both answered the scrutiny question with Google. Grok's answer described the US search and ad tech cases and EU fines.

What this means for comms teams

News volume did not predict AI visibility in this snapshot. A brand can dominate headlines and rarely appear in answers, as TikTok did, or appear often while press coverage is thin on the topic. Teams should track both, per question type, not assume one implies the other.

The sources cited in these answers were mostly not news. Review and affiliate sites made up 45% of citations, news 29%, community sites 16% and owned domains 9%. The most-cited domains were pcmag.com, forbes.com, reddit.com, techradar.com and tomsguide.com. Google's own support.google.com was the one brand-owned domain in the top group. Because the questions mix consumer and corporate topics, this mix describes this benchmark set, not corporate reputation queries alone.

Look at which question groups a brand is named in. Meta was named in 52% of avoid-and-risk answers, while Microsoft, Google and Amazon were each named in roughly 60% of employer answers. These are single live runs and answers vary between runs, so use them as a baseline for repeated measurement, not as a fixed ranking.

The evidence

Which brands the answers named, and what they cited.

ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Grok answered 250 unbranded questions about this sector, 1,250 answers in all.

Visibility leaderboard

Ordered by visibility: the share of this sector's answers that named each brand. Each figure comes with a 95% range; where two brands’ ranges overlap, they are effectively tied. This is not a favorability ranking.

Visibility by brand

  1. Google
    65%62–68%
  2. Apple
    45%43–48%
  3. Microsoft
    42%40–45%
  4. Amazon
    35%32–38%
  5. Meta
    29%26–32%
  6. Samsung
    15%13–17%
  7. TikTok
    8%7–10%
  8. IBM
    7%5–8%
  9. Salesforce
    5%4–6%
  10. Adobe
    4%3–6%
  11. Dell Technologies
    4%3–6%
  12. Oracle
    4%3–5%
  13. HP
    4%3–5%
  14. Intel
    3%2–4%
  15. Qualcomm
    1%0–1%
Measured September 29, 2026. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Grok, 1,250 answers. The line through each bar is its 95% range, printed under the figure.
Measured September 29, 2026. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Grok, 1,250 answers.
RankBrandVisibilityChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexityGrokNamed in
1Google
65%95% range 62–68%
66%55%69%54%80%813 / 1,250
2Apple
45%95% range 43–48%
52%40%41%36%58%566 / 1,250
3Microsoft
42%95% range 40–45%
48%37%40%32%54%528 / 1,250
4Amazon
35%95% range 32–38%
35%28%34%28%49%435 / 1,250
5Meta
29%95% range 26–32%
28%24%26%24%41%361 / 1,250
6Samsung
15%95% range 13–17%
15%14%14%8%23%185 / 1,250
7TikTok
8%95% range 7–10%
8%6%8%6%12%101 / 1,250
8IBM
7%95% range 5–8%
5%6%7%6%9%82 / 1,250
9Salesforce
5%95% range 4–6%
4%4%4%3%7%58 / 1,250
10Adobe
4%95% range 3–6%
3%4%3%2%8%54 / 1,250
11Dell Technologies
4%95% range 3–6%
4%3%5%2%8%54 / 1,250
12Oracle
4%95% range 3–5%
5%2%3%4%7%51 / 1,250
13HP
4%95% range 3–5%
3%2%3%3%7%46 / 1,250
14Intel
3%95% range 2–4%
2%2%3%2%5%33 / 1,250
15Qualcomm
1%95% range 0–1%
0%1%0%0%2%9 / 1,250

Top cited domains

The domains the answers cited most often, with each one's share of all citations in this sector. These are the most-cited sources, not every source cited. Bars are scaled to the most-cited domain.

  1. pcmag.com
    113 citations1%
  2. forbes.com
    100 citations1%
  3. reddit.com
    83 citations1%
  4. techradar.com
    63 citations1%
  5. tomsguide.com
    53 citations1%
  6. businessinsider.com
    49 citations1%
  7. support.google.com
    47 citations1%
  8. cnet.com
    46 citations1%

Source type breakdown

The type of site behind this sector's 8 most-cited domains, which account for 554 of the 7,730 citations in these answers. It is not the mix of every citation. Shares are of the classified citations only; domains the classifier could not label confidently are left out. Labels come from a classifier run on this site, not from a customer workspace's Smart Categories.

  • Review & Affiliate229 citations · 45%
  • News149 citations · 29%
  • Community83 citations · 16%
  • Owned47 citations · 9%

Questions asked

250 unbranded questions across 13 intents, each put to every assistant once. None names a brand, so a brand that appears in an answer was volunteered by the model. The 5 seed questions, marked below, are the ones earlier five-question snapshots asked.

  • Reliability and quality20 questions
    1. Which tech companies make the most reliable laptops?
    2. most dependable smartphone brand?
    3. I run a small accounting firm and need a cloud provider that almost never goes down. Which ones have the best uptime track record?
    4. Which cloud computing platforms are the most reliable for enterprise workloads?
    5. Who makes the best-built phones that last 5+ years?
    6. Are there any email providers known for rarely having outages?
    7. What tech company has the most consistent software updates without breaking things?
    8. Which video conferencing platform is the least glitchy for important client meetings?
    9. My parents are in their 70s and want a tablet that just works without constant problems. Which brands are the most dependable?
    10. Which web hosting companies have the best uptime for a small business site?
    11. What's the most reliable smart home ecosystem that doesn't randomly disconnect devices?
    12. Which cloud storage services are the least likely to lose or corrupt my files?
    13. worst tech brands for product failures?
    14. Is there a search engine or browser that's known for being more stable and less buggy than the rest?
    15. Which tech companies consistently ship products that work well at launch instead of buggy first versions?
    16. What brand of wireless earbuds holds up best over time?
    17. Which operating system is the most stable for daily use?
    18. Which companies make the most reliable home Wi-Fi routers?
    19. Are some smartwatch brands more dependable than others in terms of battery and hardware failures?
    20. I'm a student who needs a computer that won't die before I graduate in four years. Which brands should I trust?
  • Trust and reputation11 questions
    1. Which social media platforms do Americans trust the most?
    2. Which tech giants have been the most honest with customers when they've had a data breach?
    3. Are there any smartphone makers that are actually honest about how long they'll support their devices?
    4. What are the most reputable password managers, and which ones have had trust problems?
    5. Which search engines are seen as the most unbiased?
    6. Rank the big cloud providers by how much enterprise IT leaders trust them.
    7. Which ride-hailing and delivery apps do drivers and customers trust the least?
    8. Which tech companies do people say have gotten less trustworthy over the last decade?
    9. I run a small business. Which software and e-commerce platforms are known for treating merchants fairly?
    10. Which laptop and PC makers have the best reputation for being honest about specs and performance?
    11. What are the most trusted sources for ranking tech companies on ethics and reputation?
  • Value and price20 questions
    1. What's the cheapest cloud storage service for backing up a lot of family photos?
    2. Is paying for a premium AI chatbot subscription actually worth it?
    3. Which cloud provider is the best value for a small startup just getting going?
    4. Best budget smartphone brands for under $300?
    5. I'm a college student who needs a laptop for around $700 that will last four years. Which brands give the most for the money?
    6. Are flagship phones from the big makers worth $1,000+ compared to mid-range ones?
    7. Which office productivity suite is the best deal for a 15-person business?
    8. Which e-commerce platforms charge the lowest fees for a small online store?
    9. Which video conferencing tools have the best free plans?
    10. Is it cheaper to buy into one company's smart home ecosystem or mix devices from different makers?
    11. What are the best value smartwatches right now?
    12. Which app stores take the smallest commission from developers?
    13. Which music streaming service has the best family plan price?
    14. Are extra storage plans from phone and cloud companies worth paying for, or are there cheaper alternatives?
    15. Which website builders offer the best value for a freelancer's portfolio site?
    16. How do the major cloud providers compare on hidden costs like data transfer and egress fees?
    17. Best tablets for the money if I mostly want to watch video and read?
    18. Which password managers are worth paying for versus using a free one?
    19. Which social media advertising platform gives small businesses the cheapest results per dollar?
    20. Which video streaming services give you the most content for the least money?
  • Customer service20 questions
    1. Which companies have the best customer support when a tech product fails?
    2. Who has the best track record for honoring warranties on electronics?
    3. Who has the worst reputation for customer service in tech?
    4. Which big tech companies have the best customer support?
    5. My account got locked and I can't reach a human. Which tech companies actually have a phone number you can call?
    6. Which smartphone makers are easiest to deal with for warranty repairs and replacements?
    7. How do the major online marketplaces compare on refund policies when a seller scams you?
    8. Best laptop brand for customer support after the warranty runs out?
    9. Which cloud providers offer the most responsive support for small businesses?
    10. I got charged for a subscription I canceled. Which tech companies are known for making refunds easy?
    11. Are there any social media platforms that actually respond when you report a hacked account?
    12. Which email providers have real customer support instead of just help forums?
    13. Rank the big streaming and app store platforms by how easily they give refunds for accidental purchases.
    14. Which tech companies are the hardest to cancel a subscription with?
    15. What's the most helpful company for getting a cracked phone screen fixed quickly?
    16. I'm a small business owner whose ad account was suspended for no reason. Which advertising platforms have the best appeals process?
    17. Which tech company has the best in-person support, like stores or repair counters?
    18. Who offers the best live chat support among web hosting and domain companies?
    19. Is it true that some big tech firms have almost no way to talk to a real person? Which ones?
    20. Which video game console makers handle broken hardware and refunds best?
  • Safety and security20 questions
    1. I'm a parent trying to pick a messaging app for my teenager. Which ones have the best reputation for safety and trustworthiness?
    2. I'm 72 and nervous about scams. Which tech companies are known for protecting older users well?
    3. Which video conferencing platforms are considered the most secure and trustworthy for confidential business meetings?
    4. Which smart home camera brands have the best and worst reputations for security?
    5. Which companies have the best track record for fixing security vulnerabilities quickly?
    6. Which online payment apps are the safest and most trusted for sending money?
    7. Which dating apps have the best reputation for verifying real users and keeping people safe?
    8. Which app stores are the most reliable at keeping out malicious apps?
    9. Which messaging apps are actually secure enough to use for sensitive conversations?
    10. What's the most secure cloud storage service for storing tax documents and family records?
    11. Are there any password managers that have never had a breach?
    12. Which smartphone makers push security updates the longest?
    13. I'm a small business owner picking a cloud provider, and I want one with a strong security track record. Who should I look at?
    14. Which social media platforms do the best job protecting kids from predators?
    15. Which big tech companies have had the most serious data breaches in the last decade?
    16. Who makes the safest web browser right now?
    17. My elderly mom keeps getting scam calls and texts. Which phone platforms or carriers offer the best built-in scam protection?
    18. What are the most secure AI chatbots for handling private or company information?
    19. Rank the major smartphone operating systems by how well they resist malware.
    20. Which antivirus software actually performs best in independent tests?
  • Innovation20 questions
    1. Who makes the most innovative smartphones?
    2. most innovative tech company?
    3. I'm putting together a presentation on where tech innovation is headed. Which companies are pushing the boundaries in generative AI, cloud, and robotics?
    4. Which cloud computing providers have the most advanced features for enterprise customers?
    5. Are there any tech companies really pioneering augmented reality and virtual reality headsets?
    6. How do the biggest tech companies compare on investment in research and development?
    7. Which companies make the best voice assistants, and who is innovating fastest in that area?
    8. Top tech companies with the best new product launches in the last few years?
    9. I run a small business and want to modernize our software. Which platforms are offering the most cutting-edge tools for automation and AI?
    10. Which tech companies are ahead in quantum computing?
    11. Who is leading in self-driving car technology among the big software and tech firms?
    12. What tech companies have the best user experience and app design?
    13. Which chipmakers are making the biggest breakthroughs in AI hardware?
    14. As an investor, which tech companies look best positioned for the next wave of innovation?
    15. Which smartphone maker has the best camera technology?
    16. Are there any tech companies that are truly innovating in wearable health devices?
    17. What are the most forward-thinking companies in smart home technology?
    18. Which tech giants are falling behind on innovation?
    19. My dad is 72 and wants a tablet or computer that feels modern but is easy to use. Which companies are doing the best job with digital experience for older users?
    20. Who leads in cybersecurity innovation for enterprise customers?
  • Leadership and scale20 questions
    1. What are the biggest technology companies in the world right now?
    2. Which tech company has the highest market cap?
    3. Who are the leaders in cloud computing?
    4. Which tech companies have the most cash on hand?
    5. Rank the top five most valuable US tech companies.
    6. Which social media platform has the most users worldwide?
    7. Who dominates the smartphone operating system market?
    8. What's the most influential tech company of the past decade?
    9. Which tech companies are best run, in your opinion?
    10. Who are the market leaders in AI chatbots and generative AI right now?
    11. Which online marketplace is the largest by sales volume in the US?
    12. Who are the biggest players in digital advertising?
    13. Which tech company earns the most profit each year?
    14. Which streaming platforms have the most subscribers?
    15. Are there any tech companies with a trillion-dollar valuation?
    16. Which tech CEOs are considered the most effective leaders?
    17. Which company leads the market in AI chips?
    18. Which search engines have the largest market share?
    19. If I wanted to invest in the most dominant tech platforms for the long term, which ones would be on the shortlist?
    20. Who are the top players in online payments and digital wallets?
  • Employer and workplace21 questions
    1. Which technology companies are the best employers?Seed
    2. Which big tech companies pay software engineers the most?
    3. best tech company for work-life balance?
    4. I'm a new grad with offers from a few large tech firms. What should I compare beyond base salary, and which companies tend to have the best total compensation for entry-level engineers?
    5. Which tech giants have had the most layoffs in the past couple of years?
    6. Are there any major tech companies with unions or organized labor?
    7. What's the worst big tech company to work for in terms of culture?
    8. Which social media companies are best for a career in product design?
    9. Top tech employers for women in engineering?
    10. I'm 52 and thinking about switching into a tech company after a long career in finance. Which tech employers are known for being welcoming to older workers?
    11. How do the big cloud computing companies compare on employee benefits like parental leave and health coverage?
    12. Which tech companies offer the best remote work policies right now?
    13. Rank the largest tech platforms by how happy their employees are.
    14. Who has the best stock compensation packages in tech?
    15. Which tech companies have a reputation for burning out their employees?
    16. Is it better to work at a huge tech company or a mid-size platform company for career growth?
    17. Which app-based gig platforms treat their workers the best?
    18. What are the best tech companies to work for if you're a veteran?
    19. Which tech companies have had the biggest employee walkouts or protests?
    20. As a parent of a high schooler who loves coding, which tech companies should I tell her to aim for as future employers?
    21. Which online marketplaces and e-commerce platforms pay warehouse workers the best?
  • Sustainability and ethics19 questions
    1. Which social networks are the worst for spreading misinformation according to researchers?
    2. As an investor, which big tech companies have the strongest reputation for corporate governance and ethical leadership?
    3. Which big tech companies have the best environmental record?
    4. Which cloud providers run on the most renewable energy?
    5. Are AI chatbots bad for the environment, and which ones use the most energy and water?
    6. Which social media platforms do the most to protect teens' mental health?
    7. I'm picking a cloud provider for my startup and want one that's serious about carbon emissions. Who should I look at?
    8. Which tech companies have actually hit their net-zero or carbon-neutral pledges, and which ones are just greenwashing?
    9. Which tech giants have the most independent boards and the strongest corporate governance?
    10. Which search engines are the most ethical?
    11. What tech companies are doing the most to reduce e-waste and make repairable products?
    12. Which big tech companies have the worst record on data center water use?
    13. Which tech platforms give the most back to the communities where they operate?
    14. Are there any tech companies with dual-class share structures that have been criticized for weak shareholder governance?
    15. Which tech companies have the best diversity and inclusion track records, according to their own reports?
    16. I'm an ESG investor. Which large tech platforms score highest on sustainability ratings?
    17. Which smartphone makers have the best record on conflict minerals and ethical supply chains?
    18. What are the most environmentally friendly web hosting companies?
    19. Which tech companies are most transparent about how their algorithms affect society?
  • Avoid and risk19 questions
    1. Which technology company faces the most antitrust scrutiny?Seed
    2. Which online marketplaces have the biggest problem with fake reviews?
    3. Which tech companies have been fined or sued the most over how they treat customers on refunds?
    4. Which tech companies have been accused of exploiting content moderators or data labelers overseas?
    5. What are the biggest red flags when deciding whether to trust a social media company with my kids?
    6. Which tech companies get the most customer complaints about billing and cancellation problems?
    7. Are there any cloud storage providers I should avoid because of past data breaches?
    8. Which tech giants have faced the largest fines from regulators in the US and Europe?
    9. I'm a small business owner choosing an e-commerce platform. Which ones have the worst reputation for suddenly suspending seller accounts?
    10. Which social networks have been hit with the most lawsuits over harm to teens?
    11. What are the most controversial AI chatbot companies right now, and why?
    12. Which online marketplaces have the biggest problem with counterfeit products?
    13. As an investor, which large tech stocks carry the most legal and regulatory risk?
    14. Which tech companies have been sued the most for copyright infringement over AI training data?
    15. Which ride-hailing and gig platforms get the most complaints from drivers and riders?
    16. Which dating apps have the most complaints about fake profiles, scams, and safety?
    17. Which tech companies have faced the most whistleblower accusations or internal scandals?
    18. I'm a journalist looking into tech accountability. Which platforms have been most criticized for ignoring child safety?
    19. Which phone and laptop brands have the most class action lawsuits over defective products?
  • Privacy and data practices21 questions
    1. Which technology companies are the most trustworthy with user data?Seed
    2. Which tech companies have the worst privacy record?Seed
    3. Which email providers can I trust not to read my messages?
    4. What tech companies publish the most transparent reports about government data requests?
    5. Is there any web browser that is widely seen as trustworthy on tracking and privacy?
    6. Which cloud storage services have the best reputation for keeping my personal files private?
    7. Who is most trusted to handle children's data among the big tech platforms?
    8. Best email provider for privacy and security?
    9. Which smart speakers and voice assistants are the least risky for privacy and eavesdropping?
    10. Which big tech platforms should I be most careful about giving my personal information to?
    11. Are there any email providers I should stay away from if I care about privacy?
    12. My elderly mother wants to buy a smart speaker. Which brands have privacy concerns I should know about first?
    13. Are there web browsers I should avoid because of privacy or tracking concerns?
    14. Which smartphone makers collect the least personal data from their users?
    15. Best search engine for privacy?
    16. Do any social media platforms let you fully opt out of targeted advertising?
    17. Which companies make money by selling user data to third parties and which don't?
    18. I'm a parent buying my 11-year-old a first tablet. Which platforms have the best privacy protections for kids?
    19. Which messaging apps collect the least metadata about who you talk to?
    20. How do the big voice assistants compare on how long they store your recordings?
    21. Are there any smart speaker or smart home makers that process voice commands on the device instead of in the cloud?
  • AI and responsible technology20 questions
    1. Which tech companies are most responsible about AI?Seed
    2. Which AI chatbots are considered the most accurate and least likely to make things up?
    3. Which social media companies are the most transparent about how their recommendation algorithms work?
    4. Which tech companies are leading the way in artificial intelligence right now?
    5. Which companies have the best AI chatbots and assistants today?
    6. How do the biggest AI labs compare on safety governance and oversight?
    7. I'm a hospital administrator evaluating AI tools for clinical notes. Which vendors have the best track record on transparency and bias testing?
    8. Are there any AI labs that publish regular safety research and let outside researchers audit their models?
    9. Which big tech firms have dismantled their responsible AI teams?
    10. What's the most transparent AI company when it comes to disclosing training data?
    11. My daughter is using an AI chatbot for homework. Which ones have the strongest safeguards for kids?
    12. Which companies are doing the best work on reducing bias in facial recognition?
    13. Who makes the most capable AI image generators, and which of them handle copyright and deepfake risks responsibly?
    14. Best AI assistant for a small law firm that needs strong confidentiality and explainability?
    15. Which AI developers have signed on to voluntary government safety commitments?
    16. Is there a company that's both a top AI performer and genuinely ethical?
    17. Which cloud providers offer the most responsible AI tooling for enterprise customers?
    18. What companies are leading in open-source AI models, and how do they handle misuse risks?
    19. Which AI startups are worth investing in if I care about safety and ethics as well as returns?
    20. As a journalist covering AI ethics, which companies should I look at as having the best and worst practices?
  • Ecosystem and compatibility19 questions
    1. Which tech ecosystem is the hardest to leave once you're invested in it?
    2. Which smartphone maker has the best integration between phone, watch, tablet, and laptop?
    3. How locked in am I if I've bought a bunch of apps and movies on one platform and want to switch phones?
    4. Best smart home platform that works with the widest range of third-party devices?
    5. Which companies make it easiest to export your photos and files if you want to leave?
    6. Are there any big tech platforms that are truly open to third-party developers?
    7. I use an iPhone-style phone but want a non-matching laptop. Which laptop makers work best across ecosystems?
    8. Which app stores treat independent developers the fairest?
    9. What's the best smartwatch for someone who switches between phone brands?
    10. Which cloud storage services work best across every device and operating system?
    11. Which messaging platforms work best across different phone types?
    12. Our small business is deciding between office productivity suites. Which one integrates best with other software and outside tools?
    13. Which voice assistants work with the most smart home gadgets?
    14. I'm a developer choosing where to launch first. Which platform has the best tools and most open policies for third-party apps?
    15. Which streaming device works with the most services and smart home systems?
    16. Which tech company has the most closed-off, walled-garden approach?
    17. Do any headphone makers offer seamless device switching across both phones and computers from different brands?
    18. What's the most interoperable email and calendar service if I use devices from different manufacturers?
    19. I'm a parent with one family member on each type of phone. Which family sharing plans work across platforms?

How this was measured

Measured September 29, 2026. 250 unbranded questions per sector, asked to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Grok on their product models, with web search on. Refreshed quarterly.

This is a snapshot, not a ranking or a trend: AI answers vary from run to run. It shows whether a brand appeared and which sources were cited, not how favorably it was described. The paid platform tracks favorability daily.

Full method

In an early five-question test, the same brand went from 40% to 30% to 70% visibility across three runs, which is why every figure here is dated and treated as a snapshot.

The questions cover 13 intents, such as reliability, value for money and customer service. A model drafted them, a review pass removed paraphrases and questions that point to one company, and every question was checked so that none names a measured brand. Each was asked once per assistant in run 2026Q4.

Every visibility figure comes with a 95% range (a Wilson interval). Where two brands' ranges overlap, treat them as tied. The figures use all 1,250 answers. The quotes in the story come from a stratified sample of 60 of them, spread across every assistant and intent.

Summarized on September 30, 2026from this snapshot's stored answers. Every quote is checked against the original answer.

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