OpenAI's ChatGPT claims to have reached around 20% of Google's search volume, a figure that, if accurate, would make it the world's second-largest search engine. ChatGPT consumer product lead Adam Fry made the claim in an interview at an OpenAI dinner in New York on November 2, as cited in a report from Big Technology and Search Engine Roundtable.
But the metric depends on a broad definition. Fry counts "search-like queries," any prompt that triggers a web lookup, including questions users might never have typed into a traditional search box.
Since ChatGPT now routinely searches the web for many prompts, independent verification is difficult. Fry also said ChatGPT now has 1.2 billion weekly active users, up from one billion two months ago, and 250 million weekly voice users.
He didn't provide an updated paying-subscriber count beyond the last public figure of 50 million, roughly a 5% conversion rate. The claim lands as Alphabet's stock has fallen 13.81% since its October 28 earnings report, where Google acknowledged that AI mode generates lower revenue per query.
The broader advertising ecosystem is feeling the shift: Taboola reported a 6.9% revenue decline, citing AI summaries and fewer ad impressions, while Criteo called ChatGPT its fastest-growing channel. Anthropic, meanwhile, signed its first news licensing deal with the Associated Press.