ChatGPT Users Still Prefer Google, New Data Reveals
▼ Summary
– Nearly all ChatGPT users (95.3%) also visited Google in August, while only 14.3% of Google users visited ChatGPT.
– Google received 83.8 billion visits compared to ChatGPT’s 5.8 billion, showing Google’s significantly larger user base.
– Traditional search engines remain dominant, with 95% of users still relying on them as their primary search tool.
– AI tools like ChatGPT are growing rapidly but are used alongside Google rather than replacing it for search.
– Google organic search sent 37 times more referral traffic to Search Engine Land than ChatGPT did in August.
New data reveals a fascinating dynamic in the digital search landscape: while ChatGPT has experienced explosive growth, the vast majority of its users still rely heavily on Google for their information needs. According to recent figures from Similarweb, shared by SEO consultant Brodie Clark, an overwhelming 95.3% of ChatGPT users also visited Google in August. In contrast, only 14.3% of Google users explored ChatGPT during the same period.
International SEO specialist Aleyda Solis supplemented these findings with additional data, noting that ChatGPT recorded 5.8 billion visits in August, a significant number, yet still dwarfed by Google’s colossal 83.8 billion visits. This disparity underscores Google’s entrenched position as the primary gateway for online searches, even as AI-powered tools gain traction.
Why does this matter? For marketers and content creators, it’s a reminder that traditional search engines remain the dominant force in driving traffic. Studies from Datos and SparkToro indicate that 95% of search activity still occurs on conventional platforms. Even among heavy AI users, many continue to cross-verify results with Google, as highlighted in a Nielsen Norman Group report.
Brodie Clark pointed out that referral traffic from ChatGPT appears to be declining for some websites, with Bing occasionally outperforming it as a traffic source. However, these trends can vary widely. For instance, Search Engine Land reported a staggering 1,233.5% surge in ChatGPT referrals in August, far surpassing Bing. Despite this spike, Google’s organic search delivered 37 times more traffic to the same site.
The takeaway is clear: AI tools are rapidly evolving and expanding their influence, but they are not replacing search engines. Instead, they are complementing them. As Aleyda Solis observed, large language models are enhancing, not eliminating, search as a vital channel for discovery and marketing. Brodie Clark echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that while AI is on the rise, Google continues to hold its ground as the undeniable heavyweight in referral traffic.
(Source: Search Engine Land)
