ChatGPT now handles about 20% of Google's search query volume

ChatGPT now handles roughly one-fifth of Google's search query volume, according to OpenAI's Adam Fry, signaling a major shift in how people seek information online. Fry told the Big Technology newsletter that ChatGPT's search-like queries have reached about 20% of Google's total, a development that poses a significant competitive threat. This follows a Pew Research Center survey showing 42% of American adults use AI for information searches, with ChatGPT as the dominant tool at 1.2 billion weekly users. Google, which processes 5 trillion searches annually, has faced growing user frustration over SEO-heavy results, prompting many to switch to AI alternatives. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai previously downplayed the rivalry, but the trend suggests Google's long-standing dominance may be eroding as users embrace chatbots for faster, cleaner answers.