AI & Local Search Research Intern

Lastmile Retail

14h

About The Position

This role is for a forward-thinking AI & Local Search Research Intern at Lastmile Retail, an industry-leading provider of online-to-offline digital marketing solutions for Fortune 500 companies. The intern will help redefine how the company manages local visibility at scale by exploring how Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI automation can be applied to Local SEO. This includes automating Google Business Profile updates and researching how AI-powered search engines like Perplexity and Google SGE rank local businesses. Lastmile Retail helps organizations localize their offerings and connect high-intent individuals with local information to drive action. The company prides itself on its outstanding team, continuous opportunities for career growth, learning, professional development, and a reasonable work-life balance, trusting employees to get their work done without micromanagement.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in a degree program (Marketing, Data Science, Computer Science, or Business).
A strong interest in AI technologies (ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney) and a curiosity about how they intersect with search marketing.
Analytical mindset—you enjoy looking at data to find patterns and opportunities.
Excellent writing and communication skills (necessary for effective prompt engineering).
Self-starter attitude; you are comfortable experimenting with new tools and "learning by doing."

Responsibilities

AI Research & Benchmarking: Conduct research on how generative AI search engines summarize local business data and identify the "ranking factors" for AI-led local discovery.
Prompt Engineering for Content: Develop and test prompts to generate high-quality, localized FAQs, store descriptions, and social posts while maintaining brand voice and SEO integrity.
Workflow Automation: Partner with the team to identify repetitive local SEO tasks (e.g., auditing listings or sentiment analysis on reviews) that can be streamlined using AI tools.
Competitive Intelligence: Use AI-powered tools to perform deep-dive competitive analysis into how rivals are positioning themselves in local markets.
Data Analysis: Work with Google Search Console and Looker Studio to track how AI-driven search changes impact our organic traffic and conversion rates.
Strategic Documentation: Create a "Playbook for AI in Local SEO" based on your summer findings to help the team transition from manual to automated workflows.