AI-driven platforms are gaining momentum in everyday search, with ChatGPT usage nearly tripling while Google’s dominance shows signs of decline, according to a new U.S. survey.
Google’s stronghold on daily information searches is weakening, while AI tools – especially ChatGPT – are rapidly reshaping search behavior. These findings come from a Higher Visibility study of 1,500 U.S.-based participants.
Key statistics
Google’s share of general information queries fell from 73% in February to 66.9% in August.
Search Preferences – August 2025
Other notable results:
ChatGPT adoption nearly tripled – rising from 4.1% to 12.5% of respondents.
Daily use of AI tools doubled – climbing from 14% to 29%.
More users are switching platforms – 35% said they’ve changed how they search, compared to 28% in February.
Broader trends
The mainstream shift toward AI-powered search is accelerating. Daily AI tool usage increased from 14% to 29.2%, while the share of people who “never” use them dropped from 28% to just 16%.
AI vs. Traditional Search – August 2025
Additional takeaways:
Younger audiences are leading the charge, combining TikTok, Instagram, and ChatGPT in their search routines.
Local search, once dominated by Google, is evolving, with AI tool usage doubling to 10%.
What this means for SEO
The rise of ChatGPT and other AI platforms is transforming how people find, compare, and consume information. With search habits fragmenting across multiple tools, brands and marketers can no longer depend on Google alone.
Google SEO remains essential, but forward-looking SEO and GEO strategies must now include visibility across AI-driven discovery platforms.
Survey background
The report is based on two surveys of 1,500 U.S. respondents conducted in February and August 2025. Participants represented diverse ages, regions, and demographics, providing reliable trend comparisons over time.
