The search volume handled by OpenAI’s ChatGPT has climbed to roughly 20 percent of Google’s total query volume, marking a swift shift in how internet users look for information. Aktualita.co reported that Adam Fry, consumer product lead for ChatGPT at OpenAI, disclosed the figures during a conversation in New York, United States, on Monday (11/2/2026). The comparison relies on query volume rather than total market share, measuring requests that trigger web searches rather than every message sent to the chatbot. Fry emphasized that this 20 percent figure does not necessarily mean ChatGPT has captured one-fifth of Google’s market share.
OpenAI counts a search whenever a user enters a query that prompts ChatGPT to comb the live web. That definition excludes other tasks, such as defining a term or a simple how-to explanation. The company states that this search capability has expanded rapidly over the last year and a half, moving the platform beyond its original reliance on static training data. Adam Fry noted that the technology is evolving toward a conversational interface, stating, That’s where the future of this technology goes. You’re talking to a canvas.
ChatGPT reaches 1.2 billion weekly active users
Growth in search volume mirrors a massive expansion in active users. OpenAI reports that ChatGPT reached approximately 1.2 billion weekly active users, which was an increase of 200 million in two months from one billion. This builds on figures from July 2025, when the company noted that ChatGPT users were sending more than 2.5 billion messages every day worldwide. Data published by Semrush indicates that ChatGPT’s web search feature was active on roughly 34.5 percent of observed queries during February 2026, showing that a significant portion of interactions still happens without live web retrieval.
Google drove about 24.74 percent of observed traffic. Jawa Pos reported that Pew Research Center survey data from June 2026 showed 42 percent of 5,119 US adults surveyed use AI chatbots for information, with ChatGPT leading at 44 percent usage compared to Gemini at 24 percent. 38 percent of working respondents use these tools for professional tasks. While users often turn to Reddit for human-verified recommendations, visits to the site from Google have declined following the introduction of AI Overviews.
ChatGPT is already 20% of Google's search volume. What will it be in one year? I bet MUCH higher.@Kantrowitz has the full OpenAI interview fire side chat here: https://t.co/SaqYQHWmoe https://t.co/FPcj8kCHlJ
Google Maintains Scale as Both Giants Adapt to AI Search
Google continues to process a vastly larger share of global internet traffic. Alphabet revealed in April 2025 that its search engine handles more than five trillion queries every year, which was equivalent to an average of more than 13.7 billion searches per day based on the data announced at the time. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai menyebut investasi AI turut mendorong pertumbuhan aktivitas pencarian, dengan tingkat pertumbuhan tahunan jumlah kueri Google yang mencapai posisi tertinggi dalam lima tahun terakhir. Telset.id noted that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella previously testified in a 2023 antitrust trial that Bing held about 3 percent of the search market after a decade of effort.
OpenAI is exploring new monetization methods, including advertising, as the company prepares for an initial public offering expected early next year.
Frequently Asked Questions About AI Search Growth
How does OpenAI calculate the 20 percent search figure?
OpenAI counts a search whenever a user submits a prompt that requires ChatGPT to execute a web search. The company has not yet disclosed the specific source or methodology used to determine Google’s total query volume for this comparison.
Does ChatGPT send significant web traffic to news sites and blogs?
An Ahrefs study of 118,671 sites found that Google drove 24.74 percent of tracked traffic in October 2026. While AI search offers convenience, it also carries risks of hallucinations, where the system presents incorrect information as fact.
How many people use ChatGPT each week?
OpenAI states that ChatGPT reaches approximately 1.2 billion weekly active users, reflecting widespread adoption of generative AI tools for daily tasks.
What methodology did OpenAI use to compare its volume with Google?
OpenAI has not yet published the detailed data and methodology behind the 20 percent comparison, leaving independent researchers unable to fully verify the underlying metrics used for Google’s total query volume. It remains unknown exactly how many users utilize the platform specifically for search versus other functions like programming or image generation.
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