OpenAI says ChatGPT now handles one search for every five on Google

OpenAI says people now run about one search through ChatGPT for every five they run on Google. The company shared the figure at a press event on Monday. If it holds up, it shows how quickly many people have started asking a chatbot instead of typing a question into a search box.

What OpenAI actually claimed

Adam Fry, who leads consumer product for ChatGPT at OpenAI, said ChatGPT's search volume equals 20 percent of Google's. He did not say where the Google number came from, so the comparison is OpenAI's own and cannot be checked from this announcement.

OpenAI also uses a narrow definition. A search only counts when a question leads ChatGPT to look something up on the web. Questions like defining a word or explaining a simple how-to are left out.

Why it is a big deal

One-fifth of Google is still far from overtaking it. But The Verge points out that Microsoft's CEO said in 2023 that Bing held about 3 percent of the market after more than a decade of trying. By that yardstick, 20 percent is a large jump.

OpenAI likely relies on Microsoft's Bing for a good share of its searches, along with its own index of the web. Some people speculate that it sends certain questions through Google, though that is not confirmed.

Ads and your website

Google is already sending fewer visitors to outside websites and adding more AI tools of its own. OpenAI is moving the same way. Fry described a future where you are "talking to a canvas," meaning answers that include visuals and interactive pieces inside the chat.

OpenAI also sees ads as a path to making money, with a possible IPO (selling shares to the public) slated for early next year. Last month it said it would start showing images of sponsored products and services, not just a company name, logo and link. Fry said ads have not hurt use of the product and that most people do not seem to mind them.

Who it affects

• Everyday users may see more sponsored items inside chatbot answers.
• Business owners who rely on Google for website visitors may see fewer clicks.
• Companies may start to care about showing up in chatbot answers, not only in Google results.

What is not known yet

The source of the Google comparison is unclear, and OpenAI has not shared how it counted. It is also unknown whether the ad plans will change how much people trust chatbot answers.