On 2026-08-07, Kodec asked ChatGPT and Google AI Mode the same three homeowner pricing questions for Houston, TX. The capture produced 6 engine answers and 50 distinct cited source domains.
The price ranges the engines cited
87 distinct ChatGPT dollar figures across the three questions
Kodec Type C capture, 2026-08-07
30 distinct Google AI Mode dollar figures across the three questions
Kodec Type C capture, 2026-08-07
distinct cited source domains across both engines
Kodec Type C capture, 2026-08-07
answers that attached a dollar figure to Houston or TX; the remainder used generic or national framing
Kodec deterministic locality analysis, 2026-08-07
ChatGPT cited 87 distinct dollar figures, spanning $69–$40,000. Google AI Mode cited 30 distinct dollar figures, spanning $75–$25,000.
Question-by-question divergence
- For the repair question, ChatGPT cited $69–$5,000 and Google AI Mode cited $75–$2,500; the comparison produced $1,247 midpoint gap. ChatGPT classified as local-specific, while Google AI Mode classified as local-specific.
- For the installation question, ChatGPT cited $75–$40,000 and Google AI Mode cited $4,500–$22,000; the comparison produced $6,788 midpoint gap. ChatGPT classified as local-specific, while Google AI Mode classified as local-specific.
- For the replacement question, ChatGPT cited $75–$22,000 and Google AI Mode cited $200–$25,000; the comparison produced $1,563 midpoint gap. ChatGPT classified as local-specific, while Google AI Mode classified as local-specific.
Local pricing or a national template
6 of the 6 captured answers placed a dollar figure in a sentence that also named Houston or TX. The other 0 answers supplied prices without that local tie, so the deterministic analysis classifies them as generic or national rather than verified local pricing.
ChatGPT produced 3 local-specific answers and 0 generic-or-national answers. Google AI Mode produced 3 local-specific answers and 0 generic-or-national answers.
Where the numbers came from
ChatGPT used 20 cited domains: angi.com, avatexservicecompany.com, buildx.pro, callhtx.com, consumeraffairs.com, costadia.com, costof.homes, fixcostguide.com, heatingnewsjournal.com, hvacpricingguide.com, modernize.com, myhomescore.app, neighborprices.com, pickcomfort.com, reddit.com, renovcost.com, sierraheatingcooling.net, supply.apcagroup.com, techecmechanical.com, verichill.com.
Google AI Mode used 34 cited domains: 24sevenac.net, 75degreeac.com, aaastl.com, acrepairservicetx.com, adams-air.com, airdepot.com, airtechofkaty.com, angi.com, blackburnanddavis.com, bobsacandheat.com, championandnash.com, diamondacquisitions.biz, fixcostguide.com, fortcollinsheating.com, fuseservice.com, godailey.com, hagenrg.com, houkac.com, houstontexasairconditioning.com, hvac.johnmooreservices.com, hvacprojectcost.com, hvacservicespro.com, igdplumbing.com, kacexpress.com, lightfootmechanical.com, maddair.com, majestic-ac.com, modernize.com, premiercomfortac.com, reddit.com, springbranchac.com, swivl.tech, thegeneralhvac.com, titanhvachouston.com.
Neither engine named a local company in the captured pricing answers; both answered with price figures and source material instead.
What this experiment can and cannot establish
This capture records what two AI systems told a homeowner on 2026-08-07. It does not establish the actual market price for a specific repair, installation, or replacement because equipment, scope, permits, efficiency, ductwork, and diagnosis were not held constant in the prompts.