Sean Walsh
Sean is a Director at Intelligency heading up our digital marketing and client services operations. Sean has 15+ years experiencing working both in-house and agency with brands including Lloyds, Alstom, Hitachi, Lufthansa, Viaplay, DFDS Seaways and Mercedes-Benz.
There’s been plenty of speculation that AI-powered search engines—especially ChatGPT—are challenging Google’s dominance. Some claim Google is losing market share as users shift to AI-driven answers. But the data tells a different story: Google Search is not only 373 times bigger than ChatGPT, but it’s also still growing.
If you work in digital marketing, it’s critical to separate fact from hype. Here’s why Google remains the search king and what it means for your strategy.
Google search dominates AI search
Despite the rise of AI search tools, Google remains unmatched in scale. According to new research from Rand Fishkin:
- Google Search handled 5 trillion searches in 2024 (about 14 billion per day).
- ChatGPT processed an estimated 37.5 million search-like prompts per day—giving it a mere 0.25% market share.
- That’s 373 times fewer searches than Google.
- Even Microsoft Bing (4.10%), Yahoo (1.35%), and DuckDuckGo (0.73%) have larger search shares than ChatGPT.
While ChatGPT is a widely discussed AI tool, it hasn’t replaced traditional search—not even close.
Google search is still growing
Rather than losing ground to AI, Google Search usage actually increased. Year-over-year, Google’s search volume grew by 21.64% in 2024.
This aligns with Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai’s claim that Google’s AI Overviews have driven even more searches. However, the growth of search queries doesn’t necessarily mean the search experience is improving.
More searches, more frustration?
A new survey from Scorpion and Dynata reveals that users are increasingly frustrated with search. More than half (54%) of respondents said they now look through more search results than five years ago.
The biggest pain points for search users include:
- Sifting through search results (26%)
- Finding the right search term (22%)
- Visiting multiple websites to get answers (21%)
While Google claims AI Overviews improve search efficiency, this data suggests users might actually be searching more because they’re struggling to find the right information.
What this means for digital marketers
With Google Search still 373 times bigger than ChatGPT, here’s how marketers should adapt:
- SEO remains essential – Despite the rise of AI, Google is still where most searches happen. Focusing on high-quality, authoritative content and SEO best practices is crucial.
- Brand recognition matters more than ever – One-third of users said they click on sources they recognize. Building a strong brand presence through consistent content and thought leadership is key to standing out.
- AI search is still in its early days – While ChatGPT and AI-driven search tools are evolving, they haven’t dethroned Google. Keep an eye on AI developments, but don’t abandon traditional search strategies just yet.
Google Search isn’t shrinking—it’s 373 times bigger than ChatGPT search and still growing. But rising user frustration means digital marketers must refine their SEO and branding strategies to stay ahead.
The search landscape is shifting, but for now, Google remains the undisputed leader.
