Modern Asset Lab Launches Match Protocol as AI Ghosts 80 of 100 SMBs
Tulsa – – October 14, 2026 -- Eighty of 100 U.S. small businesses landed in the lowest "Ghosted" tier of a new AI-visibility benchmark, averaging 50.9 out of 100, according to Modern Asset Lab, which today launched its Match ProtocolTM framework for Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).
Benchmark ran up to 32 blind buyer conversations per business
The Match ProtocolTM Benchmark tested 100 businesses across 10 industries and 11 metro areas in the South, West and Midwest. ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity and Gemini answered an average of 27.8 buyer conversations per business, without the business being named in the questions. Industries covered HVAC, plumbing, roofing, dental, med spa, personal injury/family law, auto repair, independent restaurants, CPA/accounting and landscaping.
The company cautions that at n=100, results are directional rather than nationally representative.