Google Q and A API is Deprecating, But SOCi Is Empowering

Summary

Google is retiring its Business Profile Q&A API on November 3, 2025, shifting toward AI-generated answers powered by verified business information and reviews. As Q&A disappears, reviews become the main channel for customer interaction—and a key signal for Google’s AI visibility. With SOCi’s tools for managing listings, reviews, and AI-powered responses, brands can stay visible, trusted, and ahead in Google’s evolving landscape.

If you’ve used Google Business Profiles (GBP) to manage customer interactions, you might have noticed some recent news: Google is retiring its Q&A API.

That means the familiar “Questions & Answers” API, where customers could ask and answer questions directly on your GBP, will be phased out on November 3rd, 2025. 

But here’s the good news: SOCi already has you covered.

What’s Changing and Why It Matters

Google’s Q&A feature historically allowed businesses to respond to public questions about their locations. While helpful, it also created challenges like inconsistent or outdated information since customers could ask and answer freely without business verification.

With Google’s latest move, they’re shifting focus toward AI-generated answers. These are responses automatically created from verified business information, as well as business reviews and responses across the web.

That means Google’s new AI will rely even more heavily on the accuracy and freshness of your business information: hours, services, descriptions, and most importantly, reviews.

Your New Engagement Power Move: Reviews and Responses

With Q&A going away, your reviews are now the most visible two-way communication channel between your brand and your customers on Google. 

Responding thoughtfully and consistently to every review isn’t just good service anymore. It’s how you:

• Strengthen your visibility in Google’s AI-driven experiences
• Build trust and credibility for both customers and algorithms
• Ensure accurate, up-to-date context for how your business is represented online

This is where SOCi truly shines. Our platform makes it easy to:

• Monitor and respond to reviews at scale across all your locations, from one dashboard
• Automate review response workflows with AI-powered tools that maintain your brand voice
• Track performance and engagement trends so your teams can focus on what matters most: customer relationships

SOCi Keeps You Ready for the Next Generation of Search

As Google leans into AI-driven experiences, the information feeding those models comes directly from the same places SOCi already helps you manage and enhance:

• Listings: Ensure your core business information is always accurate, consistent, and complete across every location
• Reviews & Reputation: Upkeep an active presence as this is now the signal Google’s AI looks to for trustworthy content
• Genius AI Agents: With features like Genius Search and Genius Reputation, SOCi helps your brand adapt to this new, AI-powered landscape effortlessly

So while Q&A may be going away, the foundation of what fuels visibility and engagement on Google is still right here and stronger than ever with SOCi.

What You Can Do Next

• Double-check your listings are complete and accurate (SOCi can help automate that)
• Respond to every review and conversations as your replies matter more than ever, and SOCI makes it easy to manage at scale
• Lean into SOCi’s AI tools to help your brand adapt and keep your local presence optimized as Google evolves

Our teams are actively monitoring Google’s transition and will continue to update our partners on what’s changing, what it means, and how to stay ahead.

Google’s shift away from manual Q&A is a reminder that local search is evolving fast. But with SOCi, your brand isn’t just keeping up but you’re leading the change. Because while Google Q&A may be deprecating, SOCi is empowering.

Stay ahead of what’s next with SOCI’s quarterly Release Notes or explore more on market insights in the Local Lift on LinkedIn.