OpenAI says ChatGPT handles 20% of Google's search volume; ads haven't hurt usage
OpenAI announced that ChatGPT now processes search queries equal to 20% of Google's volume, with executives stating that ad integration has not negatively impacted user experience ahead of a potential IPO.
US artificial intelligence company OpenAI announced at a press event on Monday that 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, stated that the company defines a search as any time a user inputs a query that results in a web search, as opposed to tasks like defining a term or a simple how-to explanation. Fry did not specify the source of the Google search volume number.
While having one-fifth as many searches as Google is still far from overtaking it, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified during Google’s 2023 antitrust trial that Bing had about 3 percent of the search engine market share after trying for more than a decade. During that trial, Google described AI as a potential disruptor, arguing ChatGPT was poised to seriously compete with it — a view OpenAI seems to now validate.
As search queries increasingly route through OpenAI and other AI labs’ services, the company is advancing its monetization path. Fry told reporters that ads have not negatively impacted the product or its usage, adding that “most people do not seem to mind ads in the product.” Last month, OpenAI announced it would begin introducing images of sponsored products and services in ChatGPT rather than just text links. This move is seen as a key step in exploring profitability through advertising as OpenAI approaches an IPO potentially slated for early next year.