Joe Rotbart
Ranking on ChatGPT vs Google vs Gemini
What Medical Practices Need to Understand Right Now
Lately, more practice owners are asking new questions — and it’s not just about Google anymore.
“Should we be trying to rank on ChatGPT?”
“What about Gemini?”
“Is Google still the main thing?”
It’s a fair question. Search is changing fast, and AI tools are now answering questions directly instead of just showing a list of links. That feels like a big shift.
But here’s the truth most people won’t tell you:
If you understand how Google works, you already understand how AI search works — whether you realize it or not.
Let’s break it down without buzzwords.
First Things First: ChatGPT and Gemini Aren’t Search Engines
This part gets misunderstood a lot.
Google is a search engine.
ChatGPT and Gemini are answer engines.
They don’t crawl the web in real time the way Google does. They don’t rank pages the same way. And they’re not replacing Google — at least not for medical decision-making.
What they do is summarize information they already trust.
That’s an important distinction.
So How Does Content Show Up in ChatGPT or Gemini?
Short answer:
AI models pull from sources that already have authority.
Longer answer:
If your practice content ranks well on Google, is cited by reputable sites, and clearly demonstrates expertise, it’s far more likely to influence AI-generated answers.
AI doesn’t reward “new tricks.”
It rewards credibility that already exists.
That credibility usually starts with Google.
Why Google Still Matters More Than Anything Else
Even in 2025, here’s what still happens:
- A patient feels symptoms
- They Google them
- They compare providers
- They read reviews
- They check credentials
- Then they book
That process hasn’t disappeared.
AI tools may help people learn, but Google is still where people decide.
And here’s the key point:
AI answers are trained on content that already performs well in traditional search.
You don’t rank instead of Google.
You rank through Google.
What “Ranking on ChatGPT” Really Means
When people say they want to rank on ChatGPT, what they actually want is:
- To be mentioned
- To be summarized accurately
- To be positioned as a trusted expert
- To influence AI answers in their specialty
That doesn’t happen by gaming AI.
It happens by:
- Publishing clear, expert-reviewed content
- Answering real patient questions
- Being cited and linked by reputable sources
- Maintaining consistent authority signals across the web
In other words… SEO.
Gemini Works the Same Way (Just Louder About It)
Google Gemini is tightly integrated with Google Search.
Which means:
- Strong Google rankings = stronger AI visibility
- Poor SEO = invisible to Gemini
- Thin content = ignored
- Generic AI fluff = filtered out
If your content wouldn’t impress Google, it won’t impress Gemini either.
Different interface.
Same trust signals.
What Medical Practices Should Actually Focus On
Instead of chasing “AI rankings,” practices should be asking better questions:
- Do we clearly explain procedures and conditions?
- Does our content show real experience?
- Are we answering the questions patients actually ask?
- Are we consistent across our website, directories, and citations?
- Would Google trust us as a medical authority?
If the answer is yes, AI tools will follow.
If the answer is no, no AI strategy will fix it.
Why Blogs Still Matter in an AI World
This connects directly to the blog question you asked earlier.
AI needs source material.
Blogs are still:
- The clearest way to explain complex medical topics
- The easiest way for Google to evaluate expertise
- The foundation AI models summarize from
AI doesn’t replace content.
It depends on it.
The Biggest Mistake Practices Are Making Right Now
Trying to “optimize for AI” without fixing fundamentals.
That usually looks like:
- Publishing generic content
- Chasing keywords instead of clarity
- Ignoring local relevance
- Skipping medical review
- Treating AI like a shortcut
AI doesn’t reward shortcuts.
It amplifies whoever already earned trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my practice rank on ChatGPT directly?
Not in the traditional sense. AI tools reference and summarize trusted sources — they don’t rank websites the way Google does.
Does this mean Google SEO is less important now?
No. It’s more important. Google authority feeds AI visibility.
Should we write content differently for AI?
Write for patients first. Clear, accurate, expert-reviewed content performs best in both search and AI summaries.
Will AI replace Google for healthcare searches?
Unlikely. Patients still rely on Google for provider selection, reviews, and verification.
Is it worth changing our SEO strategy because of AI?
Only if “changing” means improving quality, clarity, and authority — not chasing trends.
Contact Logics MD
If you’re hearing buzzwords about “ranking on AI” and wondering what actually matters for your practice, this is where strategy matters more than hype.
Logics MD
Medical Practice Marketing & SEO Specialists
🌐 Website: https://logicsmd.com/
We help practices build authority where it counts — on Google first — so visibility naturally extends into AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini.
