23 Daily — According to theverge.com, OpenAI announced that the volume of search queries conducted through ChatGPT has reached 20% of the volume processed by Google searches. This signals a shift where many users now 'Ask ChatGPT' instead of 'Googling it.' The announcement was made by Adam Fry, OpenAI's consumer product lead for ChatGPT, at a press event on November 2, 2026.

ChatGPT's search volume climbs to challenge traditional search engines

Adam Fry defined a search as any query input by a user leading to a web-based search result, excluding simple tasks like defining a term or basic how-to explanations. He did not specify the source of Google's search volume data. Achieving one-fifth of Google's search volume contrasts with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella's statement during Google's 2023 antitrust trial that Bing held about 3% of the search engine market share after more than a decade, underscoring OpenAI's rapid penetration.

OpenAI leverages hybrid search sources to enhance experience

Evidence suggests OpenAI uses Microsoft Bing and its own search index to support ChatGPT's search results, though speculation remains that some queries route through Google. Google is actively reducing traditional referrals to third-party sites and investing heavily in AI tools, including generative AI and personalized search results with visualizations. OpenAI has introduced an 'Intelligent UI' to enable interactive, visual responses within the chatbot, aiming to create a more engaging user experience.

Editor's take: AI search's rising trend offers entrepreneurial opportunities and validation methods

The rapid growth of ChatGPT's search volume indicates user acceptance and reliance on conversational AI searches are forming a significant market trend. Entrepreneurs could explore creating differentiated, value-added search interfaces and services in this emerging space, such as richer content presentation, specialized vertical applications, or integration of diverse data sources. Validating the business potential can involve analyzing actual user search growth, retention, engagement depth, and user responses to AI search ads and sponsored content, assessing the feasibility and long-term viability of this business model.