OpenAI says ChatGPT now handles 20% of Google’s search volume

In short: OpenAI says ChatGPT is being used for web searches at about 20 percent of Google’s search volume.

What happened

OpenAI shared new numbers about how often people use ChatGPT to search the web. At a press event on Monday, Adam Fry, OpenAI’s consumer product lead for ChatGPT, said ChatGPT now handles search queries equal to 20 percent of the volume run through Google.

OpenAI said it counts a “search” when a user types something that causes ChatGPT to look up information on the web. It does not count requests that can be answered without searching, like defining a word or giving a basic how-to explanation.

Fry did not say where the Google search volume number came from. The Verge notes that ChatGPT likely relies on Microsoft Bing for a significant portion of these searches, along with OpenAI’s own search index, which is like a library catalog that helps find web pages.

For context, this would put ChatGPT far ahead of some traditional search competitors. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in 2023 that Bing had about 3 percent of the search market after more than a decade of trying.

Why it matters

More people using ChatGPT for search could change how many clicks go to regular websites, and where people get their information. It also adds pressure on Google, which has been adding more AI-made summaries and other AI features to search results.

Source: The Verge AI