Interior design & architecture
We asked four AI assistants which designer to hire.
They almost never agreed.
Ten questions a homeowner or developer would ask before hiring a designer, answered by four AI assistants, and every studio they named along the way.
Original research · 10 questions × 4 assistants
Data collected · Published
What these numbers mean
Our methodology: we asked 10 buyer-intent questions of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity, recorded every business named and every website cited in each answer, and repeated the run to measure how much each assistant varies with itself. Nothing here is modelled or estimated. Every figure below is counted from those answers, and the raw dataset is published under CC BY so you can recount them.
- All four used the same website
- When an assistant answers, it reads websites and lists them as its sources. We checked whether all four assistants read at least one website in common. On 1 of the 10 questions, they did. On the rest, there was not a single website all four had looked at. If you see a 0 on a question below, that is what it means, not that they read nothing.
- Used by one assistant only
- We took every website the assistants used across all 10 questions. 84% were used by one assistant and by no other. In other words, most of what they read, they read alone.
- Different websites
- How many separate websites came up in total. Each one counts once, no matter how often it appears. 220 sites for 10 questions means they are pulling from a very wide, scattered set of places rather than a few trusted ones.
You can check all of this yourself. Every question we asked is further down, along with the businesses each assistant named and which of the four used each website. Nothing here is estimated.
Every assistant got exactly the same question. No follow-ups, nothing about who was asking. We wrote down which businesses each one named and which websites it read to get there.
There is no single “AI answer” for your category. Ask two assistants the same question and they agree on about 7% of the websites they read. Ask four and you get four different shortlists, built from four different sets of sources.
That matters if you are trying to get your business recommended. “Are we visible in AI search?” is really four questions, and the answers barely relate to each other. Doing well in Perplexity tells you almost nothing about whether ChatGPT knows you exist.
First, the obvious objection
Ask an AI assistant the same question twice and you can get two different answers. So before saying these four disagree with each other, we had to rule out that each one simply disagrees with itself.
So we asked 10 of the questions again, two from each of the five industries, 3 times on every assistant, and compared what they read each time. Two numbers came out of it:
Same assistant, different runs
51%How much an assistant agrees with itself when asked again
Different assistants, same run
7%How much two assistants agree with each other
So an assistant is 7.5× more likely to agree with itself than with the others. The randomness is real, but it is far too small to explain the gap. They disagree because they are different, not because we got unlucky.
The re-runs turned up something else: some assistants are far steadier than others. Ask Perplexity the same question twice and about 72% of the websites it reads are the same. Ask ChatGPT and only 32% are. Most of what it reads the second time is new.
So checking “what does AI say about us?” once tells you what happened that one time. It is not a measurement, especially on ChatGPT.
The websites they read most
Across all 10 questions. Anything marked directoryis a listing or review site rather than a business's own website.
bocadolobo.com5re-thinkingthefuture.com5archidust.com4archello.com4architizer.com4houzz.com4clutch.co3youtube.com3ckarchitecture.com3tharinteriors.com3About 12% of what they read was a directory rather than the website of a business they recommended. Take the exact figure loosely. It moves depending on where you draw the line between a directory and a publisher. The pattern is the point: when an assistant needs to work out who is good, it goes to a page listing lots of businesses, not to any one business's own site.
Question by question
Each colour is an assistant. A row with one dot lit is a website only that one assistant read.
Question 1 · Delhi
Best interior designer in Delhi for a modern apartment?
ChatGPT
Ashwood Living
Deepak Gupta Design
- Vyom Interiors
Meher Sra Designs
- Over the Walls
- +7 more
read 10 websites
Claude
- Morphogenesis
- Studio Lotus
- groupDCA
- Ant Studio
- Casa Architects
- +1 more
read 8 websites
Gemini
Sculpt Design Studio
Interiors Studio
Miggla Interiors
- Studio Lotus
Livspace
- +4 more
read 9 websites
Perplexity
- Studio Lotus
- Morphogenesis
- K2 India
- Shruti Sodhi Interiors
read 4 websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 28
livspace.com | 2/4 | |
miggla.com | 2/4 | |
myinteriorsstudio.com | 2/4 | |
angiehomes.co | 1/4 | |
apsense.com | 1/4 | |
architectscasa.com | 1/4 | |
ashwoodliving.in | 1/4 | |
bocadolobo.com | 1/4 |
- 28 websites used
- 24 businesses named
- 11% of them were directories
- 0 used by all four
Question 2 · Mumbai
Top architecture firm in Mumbai for residential projects?
ChatGPT
- Atit Mistry
- Bluearch Architects
- DCA Design
- Jami Jambusarwala and Associates
- Kalayojan
- +7 more
read 5 websites
Claude
SJK Architects
- Hafeez Contractor
Talati and Partners
- Studio Nishita Kamdar
- Khosla Associates
read 9 websites
Gemini
- ZZ Architects
IMK Architects
- Sanjay Puri Architects
CNA Architects
- Abraham John Architects
- +7 more
read 6 websites
Perplexity
- Malik Architecture
- ADND
- Sanjay Puri Architects
- Sandeep Shikre & Associates
- +1 more
read 9 websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 21
archidust.comdirectory | 4/4 | |
re-thinkingthefuture.comdirectory | 3/4 | |
archello.comdirectory | 2/4 | |
architizer.comdirectory | 2/4 | |
artsofarchitecture.com | 2/4 | |
architecturaldigest.in | 1/4 | |
archthread.com | 1/4 | |
aumarch.com | 1/4 |
- 21 websites used
- 33 businesses named
- 24% of them were directories
- 1 used by all four
Question 3 · New York
Best interior design studio in New York City?
ChatGPT
- named no one
read 4 websites
Claude
- Ghislaine Viñas
- Brad Ford ID
- Ashe Leandro
- BG Studio International
- Eva Bee Interiors
- +1 more
read 7 websites
Gemini
Far Studio
- Kelly Behun Studio
- Bella Mancini Design
- Studio 1200
Float Studio
- +3 more
read 5 websites
Perplexity
- named no one
read no websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 13
bocadolobo.com | 2/4 | |
clutch.codirectory | 2/4 | |
farstudio.com | 2/4 | |
aline-studio.com | 1/4 | |
cooperhewitt.org | 1/4 | |
float.studio | 1/4 | |
fromwhere.com | 1/4 | |
gessato.com | 1/4 |
- 13 websites used
- 14 businesses named
- 15% of them were directories
- 0 used by all four
Question 4 · London
Recommend an interior designer in London for a small flat.
ChatGPT
Studio Alexandra
K Space Interiors
Copper Dust Interiors
Space Shack
Aro Studio
- +1 more
read 6 websites
Claude
- named no one
read no websites
Gemini
Topology Interiors
- Born & Bred Studio
- Martin Brudnizki Design Studio
read 3 websites
Perplexity
- Black and Milk
- LLI Design
- Oraanj Interior Design
- CLÉ DE MAISON
read 8 websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 16
youtube.comdirectory | 2/4 | |
aro-studio.co.uk | 1/4 | |
bornandbredstudio.com | 1/4 | |
cledemaison.co.uk | 1/4 | |
copperdustinteriors.com | 1/4 | |
houzz.co.uk | 1/4 | |
houzz.comdirectory | 1/4 | |
interior105.co.uk | 1/4 |
- 16 websites used
- 13 businesses named
- 19% of them were directories
- 0 used by all four
Question 5 · Dubai
Best luxury interior design firm in Dubai?
ChatGPT
- Mouhajer International Design
- XBD Collective
- Sneha Divias Atelier
- Antonovich Group
- DZ Design
- +7 more
read 2 websites
Claude
- Wilson Associates
CK Architecture
- Cherwell
- LW Design
- Pallavi Dean Interiors
- +5 more
read 7 websites
Gemini
- Bishop Design
- Fajr Interiors
- XBD Collective
- Zen Interiors
- HBA Dubai
- +7 more
read 8 websites
Perplexity
- Antonovich Group
- Fajr Interiors
- Bishop Design
- Muse Interior Design
- +1 more
read 4 websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 16
ckarchitecture.com | 3/4 | |
antonovich-design.ae | 2/4 | |
bocadolobo.com | 2/4 | |
drivenproperties.com | 2/4 | |
bestinteriordubai.com | 1/4 | |
bookmyassets.ae | 1/4 | |
circu.net | 1/4 | |
engelvoelkers.com | 1/4 |
- 16 websites used
- 26 businesses named
- 0% of them were directories
- 0 used by all four
Question 6 · Bangalore
Top interior designers in Bangalore for office spaces?
ChatGPT
Sobha Interiors
Suntew Interior Designers
Panache Workspace
Vankar Interiors
Office Interior Design
- +7 more
read 12 websites
Claude
- Space Matrix
Design Arc Interiors
- Spaceler
SKV India
- +3 more
read 6 websites
Gemini
Gopa Engineering
- Thar Interior Designers
Daftar Decor
Reecan Interiors
- +7 more
read 6 websites
Perplexity
- Space Matrix
- Zyeta
Hidecor
Thar Interiors
- +5 more
read 16 websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 32
tharinteriors.com | 3/4 | |
daftardecor.com | 2/4 | |
devx.work | 2/4 | |
nexturainteriors.com | 2/4 | |
onefolds.com | 2/4 | |
sobhainteriors.com | 2/4 | |
suntew.com | 2/4 | |
addindiagroup.com | 1/4 |
- 32 websites used
- 33 businesses named
- 6% of them were directories
- 0 used by all four
Question 7 · Los Angeles
Best home renovation / interior firm in Los Angeles?
ChatGPT
Better Together Builders
HartmanBaldwin
HLS Remodeling
Victoria Holly Interiors
- SOIA Design
- +7 more
read 12 websites
Claude
- Concept Renovations Inc.
- Studio Skara
- Lisa Merkle Design
- Hanna Li Interiors
- +6 more
read 5 websites
Gemini
South Land Remodeling
LA Design Build
Home Front Build
- +7 more
read 17 websites
Perplexity
read 1 websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 32
bettertogetherbuilders.com | 3/4 | |
hartmanbaldwin.com | 2/4 | |
22interiors.com | 1/4 | |
5blox.com | 1/4 | |
annadesignla.com | 1/4 | |
clutch.codirectory | 1/4 | |
covetedition.com | 1/4 | |
dacotahstudio.com | 1/4 |
- 32 websites used
- 31 businesses named
- 16% of them were directories
- 0 used by all four
Question 8 · Toronto
Recommend an architecture studio in Toronto for modern homes.
ChatGPT
baukultur/ca
Solares Architecture
Good Standing Architects
ExposeArc
Atelier Lupo
- +1 more
read 6 websites
Claude
- PARTISANS
- Asquith Architecture
Paul Raff Studio
blackLAB architects
- Taylor Smyth Architects
read 8 websites
Gemini
- FrankFranco Architects
Wanda Ely Architect Inc.
- smpl Design Studio
- dkstudio architects
- Akb Architects
- +6 more
read 8 websites
Perplexity
- Asquith Architecture
- Post Architecture
- FrankFranco Architects
- +1 more
read 13 websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 28
blacklabarchitects.com | 3/4 | |
archello.comdirectory | 2/4 | |
architizer.comdirectory | 2/4 | |
davidsmalldesigns.com | 2/4 | |
frankfranco.com | 2/4 | |
homebuilderdigest.com | 2/4 | |
architectureprize.com | 1/4 | |
atelierlupo.ca | 1/4 |
- 28 websites used
- 23 businesses named
- 21% of them were directories
- 0 used by all four
Question 9 · Singapore
Best interior design company in Singapore for HDB flats?
ChatGPT
- Mr Designer Studio
- Ngieng Spatial Design
- Dots 'N' Tots
- HDA Studio
- Happe Design Atelier
- +7 more
read 5 websites
Claude
Mr Shopper Studio
Taccuino Interior Studio
- Starry Homestead
Swiss Interior
Design4Space
- +2 more
read 9 websites
Gemini
- A & D Designer's Group
Urban Home Design
MET Interior
The Alchemists Design
- +4 more
read 9 websites
Perplexity
- Ciseern
- The Interior Lab
read 7 websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 25
terris.sg | 3/4 | |
bestinsingapore.co | 2/4 | |
swissinterior.com.sg | 2/4 | |
urbanhomedesign.com.sg | 2/4 | |
bestofsingapore.co | 1/4 | |
bestreviews.sg | 1/4 | |
design4space.com.sg | 1/4 | |
 design4spaceblog.wordpress.com | 1/4 |
- 25 websites used
- 24 businesses named
- 0% of them were directories
- 0 used by all four
Question 10 · Delhi NCR
Top commercial interior designer in Gurgaon for offices?
ChatGPT
Cargo Interiors
- Interia
- Decons Architects
- The Workroom
- Studio Air
- +7 more
read 7 websites
Claude
Officebanao
- Lai - Luxury Avenue Interiors
- Interia
Phi Designs
QuickFurnish
read 6 websites
Gemini
Wagma Designs
Divine Innovation
Sara Designs Interior
- +7 more
read 11 websites
Perplexity
ANSA Interiors
read 10 websites
Which websites they used, and who used them · top 8 of 30
divineinnovation.com | 2/4 | |
hammertong.com | 2/4 | |
reecan.in | 2/4 | |
wagmadesigns.com | 2/4 | |
ansainteriors.com | 1/4 | |
arcpacificinteriors.com | 1/4 | |
cargointerior.com | 1/4 | |
colonelz.com | 1/4 |
- 30 websites used
- 28 businesses named
- 3% of them were directories
- 0 used by all four
What we'd take from this
Treat each assistant separately. They agree on 7% of their sources. That is not four windows onto one ranking. It is four audiences who have read different things. Getting named by one tells you nothing about the other three.
Checking once proves nothing, especially on ChatGPT. When we asked again, only 32% of the websites ChatGPT read were the same. One screenshot of a good answer, or a bad one, is normal variation. If you want to know whether something is really changing, you have to check repeatedly.
The pages that list you may matter more than your own. Assistants read directories far more than they read the websites of the businesses they went on to recommend. Missing from those directories is a different problem from having a weak website, and usually an easier one to fix.
None of this is a ranking. An assistant naming a business tells you what that assistant read, not whether the business is any good. Plenty of excellent firms appear nowhere here. That absence is the finding, not a verdict on them.
Is your site one of the ones being read?
Greater Than Services runs this same test on your website, across every assistant, and shows you which questions you are missing from and what to fix.
Download the raw data (CSV), every question, what each assistant named, and every website it read. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0, so quote it, chart it, or check our arithmetic. Credit Greater Than Services and link back.
Method.Each question was sent to GPT-4o with web search, Claude Haiku 4.5 with web search, Gemini 2.5 Flash with Google Search grounding, and Perplexity Sonar. One question per request. No follow-ups, and nothing about who was asking or where they were, only the wording of the question itself. The websites come from each assistant's own list of sources; the business names were pulled out of the answer text. We kept every raw answer. 10 of the questions were asked again, 3 times each, to check how much answers move on their own (see above). All of this is a snapshot: ask these questions today and you will not get the same results. Nothing here is a ranking or a recommendation, and naming a business is not an endorsement of it.