ChatGPT Leads AI Search Market, Traditional Engines Struggle

ChatGPT commands a significant 80.1% of the AI search market, according to recent data from Similarweb. This dominance has persisted over the past six months, despite some fluctuations.

AI Search Market Share Trends

While ChatGPT's market share rebounded to 80.1% from 77.6% last month, other AI search tools are also vying for position:

  • DeepSeek: 6.5% (down from 7.6%)
  • Google AI tools: 5.6% (up slightly from 5.5%)
  • Perplexity: 1.5% (down from 1.9%)
  • Grok: 2.6% (down from 3.2%)

Traditional Search Engines Face Declining Traffic

Traditional search engines are experiencing a concerning downward trend:

  • Google: -2% year-over-year
  • Bing: -18% year-over-year
  • Yahoo: -11% year-over-year
  • DuckDuckGo: -6% year-over-year
  • Baidu: -12% year-over-year

Although Google still boasts a user base seven times larger than ChatGPT's, the consistent decline in traditional search traffic raises concerns.

Rapid Growth in Specific AI Categories

Certain AI categories are experiencing rapid growth:

  • DevOps & Code Completion: +103% (over 12 weeks)
  • General AI tools: +34%
  • Music Generation: +12%
  • Voice Generation: +8%

Conversely, some AI areas are contracting, including Writing and Content Generation (-12%), Customer Support (-11%), and Legal AI (-70%).

AI's Impact Extends Beyond Search

The influence of AI extends beyond search, impacting various digital sectors:

  • EdTech: -28% year-over-year
  • Website Builders: -13% year-over-year
  • Freelance Platforms: -19% year-over-year

Design platforms, however, are still growing at +10% year-over-year, suggesting AI may be augmenting rather than replacing these services.

Adapting to the Changing Search Landscape

While traditional SEO remains important, it's no longer sufficient. The decline in traditional search traffic necessitates a broader approach.

Similarweb's data highlights the consistent negative growth for traditional search engines alongside ChatGPT's dominant market share. This signifies a fundamental shift in how people find information online.

Search marketers must adapt to AI-driven search while maintaining effective traditional SEO practices. This balanced strategy will be crucial for success in 2025 and beyond.

Featured Image: Fajri Mulia Hidayat/Shutterstock