Google remains 210 times larger than ChatGPT in the search field
In the age of generative AI, many wonder whether ChatGPT or other conversational assistants will supplant Google as the search engine. However, the figures show a very different reality: even in 2025, Google will still dominate.
A recent Search Engine Land article reveals that Google handles around 14 billion searches a day, while ChatGPT handles around 66 million “search-like” queries daily. This puts Google some 210 times ahead of ChatGPT in this respect.
This discrepancy is a reminder that, even in an increasingly AI-driven world, “traditional” search remains a mainstay of the web. Let’s dive into the figures and their implications.
By the numbers: Google vs ChatGPT
Query volume
- ChatGPT processes around 66 million prompts a day that are identified as “search” in nature.
- Google, for its part, manages 14 billion searches a day, according to data reported by Search Engine Land.
- This ratio is calculated as follows: 14,000,000,000 ÷ 66,000,000 = 212, which justifies the approximation “210× plus”.
ChatGPT growth and research share
Last December, according to Sam Altman, ChatGPT was processing 1 billion prompts a day; by July, that figure had risen to 2.5 billion. Much of this growth comes from API calls, i.e. companies integrating GPT into their products.
A joint study between Harvard and OpenAI detects that only 21.3% of prompts have a “search” intention. This limits the volume potentially comparable to Google to around 66 million per day.
Google’s dominant role in content discovery
Despite the AI craze, data shows that AI searches generate less than 1% of referrals, according to BrightEdge. In other words, very little traffic is routed to sites via AI results.
Paradoxically, ChatGPT users are also increasing their use of Google. The adoption of AI does not necessarily mean substitution, but rather complementarity in usage.
Things to remember: AI hype? Yes. Revolution? No (not yet)
The figures clearly show that Google remains by far the master of online search: in terms of volume, reach and traffic generation to websites. However, this doesn’t mean that ChatGPT or AI-based search engines are useless or valueless. Here are some strategic thoughts :
1. Closing the gap will take time
ChatGPT and similar AIs are making dizzying progress, but catching up with Google in terms of search volume is no mean feat, if only because Google is already widely integrated, used by default in browsers, Android systems and so on.
2. Different uses, complementarity
Users seem to choose according to their needs:
- Google: for quick, factual queries, site-specific searches, real-time news, local searches, etc.
- ChatGPT / Conversational AI: for complex explanations, synthesis, exploratory research, creativity, etc.
3. SEO is not dead
Websites still need to work on their Search Engine Optimization (SEO). While AI-generated overviews may erode some clicks, the majority of content discovery still goes through Google.
4. Monitor progress
AI engines and algorithms will continue to improve. It’s crucial to keep a close eye on emerging trends in AI optimization, hybrid indexing, or conversational search formats.
