AI Chatbots Just 3% of Search Traffic in 2024

## Still Google It: AI Chatbots Like ChatGPT, Gemini Make Up Just 3% of Search Traffic—But Are They the Future? Let’s face it: if you have a question, you probably still “Google it.” That’s the reality, even in the age of AI chatbots. Despite the explosive growth of platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, these AI-powered assistants accounted for just 2.96% of the visits received by search engines between April 2024 and March 2025, according to a recent study by SEO and backlink services firm OneLittleWeb. For all the hype around large language models and generative AI, search engines still dominate daily user engagement—at least for now[5]. This article explores why, even as AI chatbots surge in popularity, traditional search remains king. We’ll look at the latest data, break down what’s driving user behavior, and ask: are we on the cusp of a paradigm shift, or is Google’s grip on information as strong as ever—just with a new AI coat of paint? --- ## The State of AI Chatbots in 2025 ### Explosive Growth, Modest Impact ChatGPT, the poster child for generative AI, hit the mainstream in late 2022 and quickly became a household name. By February 2025, it boasted 400 million weekly users, with OpenAI aiming for 1 billion users by the end of the year[3]. Globally, the chatbot market is now valued at $15.57 billion and is projected to balloon to $46.64 billion by 2029[1]. These numbers are staggering—but when you zoom out, the impact on search engine traffic is surprisingly small. According to OneLittleWeb’s study, chatbot sites made up just 2.96% of search engine visits in the past year. Google, by comparison, still sees about 26 times more daily visits than ChatGPT[5]. That’s a sobering reality for anyone who thought AI chatbots would dethrone search engines overnight. ### Why Are People Still Googling? There are a few reasons for this. For one, Google and Microsoft Bing have both integrated AI features—Google’s AI Overviews and Bing’s Search Generative Experience (SGE)—directly into their search results. These features offer instant answers and summaries, blurring the line between traditional search and AI-powered chat[5]. Users get the best of both worlds: the familiarity of Google’s interface with the intelligence of generative AI. Another factor is trust. Google has spent decades building user trust and refining its algorithms. It’s the default for billions of people, and old habits die hard. Meanwhile, AI chatbots, for all their intelligence, are still seen as experimental, prone to “hallucinations” (fabricated information), and sometimes unreliable for mission-critical queries[5]. ### The Rise of AI-Driven Bots Interestingly, while chatbots aren’t replacing search engines, AI-driven bots are now responsible for more than half of global internet traffic. The 2025 Imperva Bad Bot Report from Thales found that AI-driven bots generate over 50% of all internet traffic[4]. These bots aren’t just answering questions—they’re scraping data, automating tasks, and, yes, sometimes causing headaches for website owners. This surge in bot activity is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it highlights the power of AI automation. On the other, it underscores the need for better security and authentication measures as the web becomes increasingly automated[4]. --- ## Comparing AI Chatbots and Search Engines To understand the current landscape, let’s compare the major players: | Feature | Google Search | ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Gemini (Google) | |------------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|------------------------| | Monthly Visits | ~90 billion+ | 5.19 billion | N/A (not public) | | AI Integration | AI Overviews, SGE | GPT-4o, GPT-4.5 | Gemini Pro, Gemini 1.5 | | User Trust | Very High | Growing | Growing | | Use Case | General information | Q&A, creative tasks | Q&A, creative tasks | | Market Share (Search) | ~90%+ | ~2.9% | Included in Google data| *Note: Numbers are approximate and based on public estimates as of May 2025.* --- ## Real-World Applications and User Behavior ### How People Use AI Chatbots Chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini excel at creative tasks—writing code, drafting emails, generating ideas, and answering complex questions in a conversational tone. They’re especially popular among students, developers, and professionals seeking quick, tailored answers[3]. But when it comes to finding up-to-date information, checking facts, or browsing multiple sources, most users still turn to Google. The study found that search engine traffic declined by just 0.51% year-over-year, while chatbot traffic spiked by over 80%—but from a much smaller base[5]. ### The Hybrid Future The most interesting development is the convergence of search and chat. Google and Bing now offer AI-generated summaries and follow-up questions directly in search results. This hybrid approach gives users instant answers while preserving the depth and reliability of traditional search[5]. As someone who’s followed AI for years, I’m struck by how quickly these tools have evolved—and how user behavior is slow to change. People want answers, not just chat. And until AI chatbots can match the speed, accuracy, and trustworthiness of Google, “Googling it” will remain the default for most. --- ## Historical Context: From Search to Chat Looking back, the shift from directories (remember Yahoo?) to search engines was seismic. Google’s PageRank algorithm changed how we find information, and now AI is poised to do the same—but the transition is more gradual than expected. In the early 2000s, people worried that search engines would kill libraries. Now, some worry that AI chatbots will kill search engines. But history suggests that new technologies often augment, rather than replace, existing ones. The web is big enough for both—at least for now. --- ## Future Implications: What’s Next for AI and Search? ### The Next Wave of Innovation AI chatbots are still in their infancy. As models get faster, more accurate, and better at sourcing reliable information, their share of search traffic could grow. OpenAI’s plans to reach 1 billion users by the end of 2025 suggest that adoption is accelerating[3]. At the same time, search engines are racing to integrate AI features that make them more conversational and interactive. The line between “search” and “chat” is blurring, and the winner may be the platform that best combines the strengths of both. ### Challenges Ahead For AI chatbots, the biggest hurdles are trust, accuracy, and integration. Users need to believe that the answers they get are reliable—something Google has spent decades earning. And for chatbots to truly replace search, they’ll need to seamlessly integrate real-time data, citations, and multimodal inputs (like images and videos). ### A Human Perspective As someone who’s spent years covering tech trends, I’m both excited and cautious. AI chatbots are transforming how we interact with information, but they’re not a silver bullet. They’re tools—powerful, sometimes unpredictable, and always evolving. The future isn’t about replacing Google; it’s about making information more accessible, accurate, and engaging for everyone. --- ## Conclusion: The Coexistence of Search and Chat Despite the hype, AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini are still a small slice of the search traffic pie. Search engines, buoyed by their own AI features, remain the go-to for billions. But the lines are blurring, and the future will likely see a hybrid model where search and chat work together to deliver the best possible answers. As we look ahead, the key question isn’t which will win—search or chat—but how they’ll evolve together to meet the needs of an increasingly curious, demanding, and digitally savvy world. --- **