AI is Replacing Traditional Search
April 21, 2025 · 3 min read
Recent data indicates a significant shift in how people search for information online, with many turning to AI tools instead of traditional search engines.
📈 Current Usage Trends
- 77% of respondents in a 2024 survey by The Information reported using generative AI applications like ChatGPT instead of traditional search engines for some queries. [¹]
- 55% of participants in a separate poll indicated they use generative AI tools for their queries instead of Google. [¹]
- 67% of U.S. consumers who use both search engines and AI tools believe AI is likely to replace traditional search engines within the next three years, according to a 2024 survey by Local Dialog. [²]
- 13 million U.S. adults used generative AI as their primary tool for online search as of 2023. This number is projected to exceed 90 million by 2027. [³]
🔮 Future Projections
- 25% — Gartner predicts that by 2026, traditional search engine volume will decrease by 25%, with AI chatbots and virtual agents capturing a significant portion of search queries. [⁴]
- 69% — By 2030, it's estimated that AI-driven tools could dominate over 69% of information searches, indicating a substantial shift towards AI-based search methods. [⁸]
👥 Demographic Insights
- 82% — AI search adoption is highest among younger Americans. For instance, 82% of Gen Z (ages 18–26) have used AI search tools at least occasionally, favoring social media for product discovery. [⁵]
- 79.8% — Despite the rise of AI tools, 79.8% of consumers still prefer traditional search engines like Google or Microsoft Bing for general information searches. [⁵]
💡 Implications
The increasing reliance on AI for search suggests a transformative shift in user behavior, with potential impacts on industries reliant on search engine traffic. As AI tools become more integrated into daily life, businesses and content creators may need to adapt their strategies to maintain visibility and engagement.
For brands, this shift means traditional SEO strategies must evolve. When AI is the intermediary between your brand and consumers, visibility depends not just on ranking well in search results but on being a trusted source that AI models reference.
At Spotlight, we help businesses understand how AI talks about their brand and industry.
Our platform analyzes the sources AI models reference when discussing your products or services, enabling you to craft strategies that ensure your brand remains visible in an AI-dominated information landscape.
📚 Sources
- TechRadar: People are increasingly swapping Google for the likes of ChatGPT, according to a major survey
- StanVentures: The Search Revolution - How People Are Finding Information In 2025
- Statista: U.S. generative AI usage for online search forecast
- Gartner: Gartner Predicts Search Engine Volume Will Drop 25% by 2026
- Search Engine Land: AI search gaining traction but not replacing Google
- GWI: AI and search engine trends
- Exploding Topics: AI Statistics
- Morningscore: Will AI Grow Bigger Than Google Search?