Usman Salis
⬤ Google's seeing a real shift in how people use the internet. New data from Similarweb shows more and more Google visitors are also heading to ChatGPT. Since ChatGPT launched in late 2022, this overlap has grown from a tiny 1.6% to over 14% by November 2025. It's a pretty clear sign that AI is changing how we look for information online.
⬤ The numbers tell an interesting story. When ChatGPT first showed up in November 2022, only 1.6% of Google users were checking it out. By early 2025, that jumped past 10%. The growth kept going through the year—12.9% in July, 14.3% in August, dropping slightly to 13.8% in September, then back up to 14.3% in October and 14.2% in November. There was a technical bump in May 2024 when ChatGPT changed domains, which pushed the numbers higher.
⬤ Google still handles way more searches than ChatGPT, but the growing overlap matters. People aren't abandoning Google—they're adding ChatGPT to their routine. They're using it for quick explanations, detailed analysis, and AI-powered research that traditional search doesn't always handle as smoothly. This tracks with how generative AI is spreading across both personal and business use.
⬤ The rising Google-ChatGPT traffic overlap signals real changes ahead for search and AI. As more people blend these tools together, companies in digital advertising, search, and AI products will face fresh competition and tough decisions. ChatGPT weaving itself into daily browsing habits shows how AI is reshaping not just how we find information, but the entire digital landscape.
Usman Salis
