Google continues to process approximately five times as many searches as ChatGPT, according to OpenAI, highlighting the difference in search activity between the two platforms as artificial intelligence becomes a growing part of online information discovery.
Adam Fry, Consumer Product Lead at ChatGPT, disclosed the comparison during a discussion with technology journalist Alex Kantrowitz at an OpenAI-hosted event in New York. The conversation was subsequently published by Big Technology.
According to Fry, ChatGPT currently handles search-related queries equivalent to approximately one-fifth of Google's search volume.
OpenAI calculates this figure by counting each ChatGPT question that triggers a web search as a separate search. This means that multiple questions within a single conversation can contribute individually to the platform's search activity.
Fry explained that ChatGPT's usage patterns have changed as consumers increasingly turn to the platform for information traditionally obtained through search engines.
While early adoption largely involved writing assistance and coding, users are now asking more questions about people, places, current events, finance and health, particularly when updated information is required.
However, OpenAI has not disclosed the specific Google search figures, geographical markets or measurement period used to calculate the comparison. This limits the extent to which the figures can be independently assessed.
The disclosure also comes amid differing estimates of ChatGPT's position in the search market.
In February 2026, SEO analytics company Ahrefs estimated that ChatGPT's search activity represented approximately 12 per cent of Google's volume, using a different methodology.
Its calculation was based on an earlier estimate of 2.5 billion daily ChatGPT prompts and assumptions about the proportion of those interactions resembling traditional search queries.
Unlike OpenAI's approach, which counts questions triggering web searches, the Ahrefs methodology categorised prompts according to their likely purpose.
Separate website referral data also indicates a considerable difference between the platforms.
According to Ahrefs' November 3 update, Google accounted for 24.74 per cent of tracked website traffic across 118,671 websites in October, compared with ChatGPT's 0.36 per cent.
These figures measure visits directed to external websites rather than the total number of searches conducted on either platform.
Meanwhile, Alphabet reported continued growth in Google's search business during its third-quarter earnings announcement.
CEO Sundar Pichai said Google's year-on-year search query growth rate had reached its highest level in five years, although the company did not disclose an updated total search volume.
For advertisers, publishers and digital marketers, the distinction between search activity and website referrals remains relevant when evaluating traffic sources and audience discovery.
ChatGPT can answer questions directly without requiring users to visit external websites, while traditional search continues to direct substantial traffic to publishers and businesses.
The available figures do not establish whether increased ChatGPT usage is replacing Google searches. They instead provide separate measures of search-related interactions and the traffic generated by the two platforms.
Disclaimer: This article may include information derived from interviews, press releases, public statements, research, company communications and other publicly available or third-party sources. Such material may be summarised, paraphrased or contextualised for journalistic and editorial purposes. All rights in third-party content remain with their respective owners.