OpenAI Says ChatGPT Search Volume Reaches 20 Percent of Google’s

OpenAI says the volume of search queries run through ChatGPT now equals 20 percent of the volume run through Google. Adam Fry, OpenAI’s consumer product lead for ChatGPT, made the announcement at a press event on Monday.

Fry said OpenAI counts a search when a user enters a query that results in a web search, excluding tasks such as defining a term or giving a simple how-to explanation. He did not specify the source of the Google search-volume figure.

The figure is far below Google’s, though it offers a comparison with Bing. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said during Google’s 2023 antitrust trial that Bing had about 3 percent of search-engine market share after more than a decade of trying to compete. OpenAI likely uses Microsoft Bing for a significant portion of its searches alongside an in-house search index, but reports that it routes some queries through Google remain speculative.

Fry also described OpenAI’s “Intelligent UI,” a visual and interactive interface within a chatbot response. He said ads had not negatively affected ChatGPT’s product or usage, and that most people did not seem to mind them. OpenAI said last month it would start showing images of sponsored products and services in ChatGPT, in addition to company names, logos, and links.