If you’ve noticed the Questions & Answers section slowly disappearing from Google Business Profiles, you’re definitely not alone.

Google has officially discontinued the Google Business Profile Q&A API, and the feature is now being phased out across listings in the U.S. For many local businesses, this was a powerful tool to answer customer questions, build trust, and even improve local SEO visibility.

Now, Google is shifting toward an AI-powered experience instead.

Let’s talk about what changed, what’s replacing it, and what business owners should do to stay visible in local search.

What happened to the Google Business Profile Q&A feature?

For years, the Q&A section allowed customers to ask questions directly on a business listing, while business owners or the public could provide answers. It was a simple way to cover things like hours, services, pricing, and policies right where people were already searching.

In September 2025, Google announced it would sunset the My Business Q&A API. The change officially took effect on November 3, 2025, and since then the Q&A section has gradually started disappearing from profiles slowly but surely. Google shared that they are “updating the Q&A functionality and user experience,” which points to a bigger shift rather than a simple removal.

The truth is, many Q&A sections had become outdated or filled with inconsistent information. From Google’s perspective, this created accuracy and trust issues. So instead of relying on static user-generated content, they are moving toward real-time AI-generated answers.

(You can view Google’s official documentation here: https://developers.google.com/my-business/reference/rest/v4/accounts.locations.questions)

What’s replacing it? Introducing Ask Maps

Google isn’t leaving a gap. The Q&A feature is being replaced by a new AI-powered experience inside Google Maps called Ask Maps, powered by Gemini AI. It just has not been featured on profiles as of early 2026.

Instead of pulling from old question threads, Ask Maps creates answers in real time by analyzing multiple sources, including:

• Your Google Business Profile information
• Customer reviews
• Photos on your listing
• Your business website
• Trusted third-party sources

So when someone asks something like:

“Do they offer gluten-free options?”
“Is this business family-friendly?”
“What services do they specialize in?”

The AI scans available information and generates a response instantly.

Right now, Ask Maps is rolling out in the U.S. inside the Google Maps app, and Google has shared that it will expand into Search as well.

Why this matters for local SEO

This is a big change in how businesses show up online. In the past, many business owners used the Q&A feature strategically. They would post common questions themselves and answer them with helpful, keyword-rich content. It was a great way to control messaging and address customer concerns proactively. If you did use that strategy to let Google read your business information, that strategy needs to shift.

With Ask Maps, you no longer write the answers directly. Google’s AI decides what information to surface based on the data it can find about your business. This makes your Google Business Profile, your reviews, and your website content more important than ever.

If your profile is incomplete or your website doesn’t clearly explain your services, hours, or policies, the AI may provide vague or even inaccurate responses.

Another big shift is the importance of reviews! Since Gemini pulls insights from customer feedback, what people say about your business directly influences how Google describes you to future customers.

Google has also limited this feature in certain industries for now. Some regulated fields like healthcare and counseling are currently excluded due to privacy and compliance concerns.

What business owners should do now

While losing the Q&A feature may feel frustrating, there’s good news. You still have a lot of control over how Google’s AI represents your business.

The key is focusing on the data sources Google now relies on.

First, make sure your Google Business Profile is fully completed and accurate. This includes your business name, address, phone number, hours, categories, service descriptions, attributes, and any products or menus if applicable. The more detailed your profile is, the better Google’s AI can understand your business.

Next, keep everything updated. Add new photos regularly, update services when things change, and make sure holiday hours are correct. Outdated information can easily turn into outdated AI responses.

Reviews are also more important than ever. Encourage happy customers to leave feedback and respond professionally to all reviews, both positive and negative. Your reputation now directly feeds into how Google answers questions about your business.

Another great step is adding a dedicated FAQ page to your website. Cover common customer questions clearly and honestly. Then implement FAQ schema markup so search engines can easily recognize that content.

Google provides documentation on FAQ structured data here:
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/faqpage

This helps your website become a trusted source for AI-generated answers.

Finally, keep an eye on how your business appears in Ask Maps. Search for your listing in Google Maps and try the “Ask about this place” feature to see what information is being surfaced.

The future of local search is AI-driven

The removal of Google Business Profile Q&A is part of a much bigger shift toward AI-powered search experiences.

While businesses may have less direct control than before, those that maintain optimized profiles, build strong review reputations, and create clear, helpful website content will be in the best position moving forward.

Local SEO isn’t going away. It’s just evolving to what is new with AI and new changes with technology.

Need help adapting your local SEO strategy?

At Sable Society, we help growing businesses optimize their websites and Google Business Profiles so they can show up, stand out, and attract more customers, even as search continues to change.

From profile optimization to local SEO strategy and AI-ready website content, we make sure your online presence is built for the future.

If you’d like a free consultation to see how your current website and Google Business Profile are performing, we’d love to help.