OpenAI reports that ChatGPT processes one-fifth the volume of search queries compared to Google.
In many circles, the phrase “Ask Chat” has effectively replaced “Google it,” a trend reflected in a recent announcement from OpenAI. The company revealed that the volume of search queries processed by ChatGPT now stands at 20 percent of the volume processed by Google.
Adam Fry, OpenAI’s consumer product lead for ChatGPT, made this announcement during a press event on Monday. He explained that the company defines a search as any instance where a user inputs a query resulting in a web search, distinguishing it from simple definition requests or how-to explanations. Fry did not specify the origin of the Google search volume statistics.
While one-fifth the search volume of Google is still distant from overtaking the search giant, comparisons can be drawn from Microsoft's history. During Google’s 2023 antitrust trial, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Bing had only achieved about 3 percent of the search engine market share after over a decade of effort. Google had previously argued that AI, citing ChatGPT as a serious competitor. OpenAI now seems to validate that assessment. OpenAI likely utilizes Microsoft Bing for a majority of its searches, supplemented by its own search index, although speculation remains regarding potential routing through Google.
This news arrives during a significant shake-up in the search engine landscape. Google is reducing referrals to third-party sites while investing heavily in AI tools, such as AI Overviews and personalized results with visualizations. As queries increasingly route through OpenAI and other AI labs, competitors are developing similar experiences. OpenAI refers to this as “Intelligent UI,” aiming to create visual and interactive interfaces within chatbot responses. “That’s where the future of this technology goes. You’re talking to a canvas,” Fry remarked.
Like Google, OpenAI envisions profitability through advertisements, especially as it prepares for a potential IPO early next year. OpenAI has previously defended its ad strategy, and Fry confirmed to reporters that the ads have not caused negative backlash. “Ads have not negatively impacted the product or the usage of the product,” he stated, adding that “most people do not seem to mind ads in the product.”
Last month, OpenAI announced it would begin displaying images of sponsored products and services within ChatGPT, moving beyond the previous method of showing only a company's name, logo, and a link.
“Ads have maybe shown us that we could be doing this more, actually,” Fry added.
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