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AI search statistics: sourced figures on the shift from search to AI assistants

34 published figures on how people use AI assistants, AI Overviews, and search, each with its publisher, date, and the sentence it comes from.

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The data

idclaimvalueunitpublishertitleurlpublishedcheckedtopics
similarweb-2026-ai-referrals-770m-monthAI platforms sent an average of 770.7 million referral visits a month to websites worldwide (June 2025-May 2026), more than double the year before.770.7 millionaverage monthly referral visits from AI platforms, worldwideSimilarwebAI Referral Traffic by Industry: 2026 Datahttps://aisearch.similarweb.com/blog/ai-referral-traffic-by-industry/2026-09-032026-09-27ai-referrals
similarweb-2026-chatgpt-citation-rateThe share of U.S. ChatGPT prompts whose answers include web citations rose from about 1.6% (June 2025) to about 6.8% (May 2026); professional services sit under 4%.6.8%percent of US ChatGPT prompts with citationsSimilarwebAI Search Stats 2026: Market Share, Referral, and Citation Datahttps://aisearch.similarweb.com/blog/gen-ai-stats/2026-07-292026-09-27ai-referrals
similarweb-2026-chatgpt-share-53pctChatGPT's share of worldwide generative-AI website visits fell from about 76% to roughly 53% between June 2025 and May 2026, while Gemini rose to about 27-28% and Claude to close to 9%.53%share of worldwide generative AI website visitsSimilarwebAI Search Stats 2026: Market Share, Referral, and Citation Datahttps://aisearch.similarweb.com/blog/gen-ai-stats/2026-07-292026-09-27assistant-adoption
alphabet-q2-2026-ai-mode-1b-mauGoogle's AI Mode has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, per Alphabet's Q2 2026 earnings remarks.1 billionmonthly active users (global)Google (Alphabet)Alphabet earnings call Q2 2026: Sundar Pichai remarkshttps://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/message-ceo/alphabet-earnings-q2-2026/2026-07-222026-09-27assistant-adoption; ai-overviews
alphabet-q2-2026-gemini-950m-mauThe Gemini app has 950 million monthly active users, with daily active users tripling in a year.950 millionmonthly active users (global)Google (Alphabet)Alphabet earnings call Q2 2026: Sundar Pichai remarkshttps://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/message-ceo/alphabet-earnings-q2-2026/2026-07-222026-09-27assistant-adoption
alphabet-q2-2026-search-queries-growingGoogle says AI Mode, like AI Overviews, is increasing overall Search queries, and that AI features send billions of clicks to websites weekly.billions of clicksclicks to websites from Google AI featuresGoogle (Alphabet)Alphabet earnings call Q2 2026: Sundar Pichai remarkshttps://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/message-ceo/alphabet-earnings-q2-2026/2026-07-222026-09-27ai-overviews
pew-2026-chatbots-half-adultsAbout half of U.S. adults now use AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot, up from a third in 2024.About halfpercent of US adultsPew Research CenterAmericans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impacthttps://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/06/17/americans-and-ai-2026-chatbots-smart-devices-and-views-on-impact/2026-06-172026-09-27assistant-adoption
pew-2026-chatbots-info-searchAbout four in ten U.S. adults use AI chatbots to search for information, the most common use alongside work tasks.About four-in-tenshare of US adultsPew Research CenterAmericans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impacthttps://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/06/17/americans-and-ai-2026-chatbots-smart-devices-and-views-on-impact/2026-06-172026-09-27assistant-adoption
pew-2026-chatgpt-adults44% of U.S. adults say they use ChatGPT, up from 34% in 2025 and 18% in 2023.44%percent of US adultsPew Research CenterAmericans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impacthttps://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/06/17/americans-and-ai-2026-chatbots-smart-devices-and-views-on-impact/2026-06-172026-09-27assistant-adoption
sparktoro-2026-zero-click-68pct68% of U.S. Google searches in January-April 2026 ended without a click, up from about 60% in 2024.68.01%percent of US Google searches ending with no clickSparkToroIn 2026, Less than One Third of Google Searches Still Send a Clickhttps://sparktoro.com/blog/in-2026-less-than-one-third-of-google-searches-still-send-a-click/2026-06-092026-09-27ai-overviews
seer-2026-aio-cited-120pct-more-clicksBrands cited inside a Google AI Overview earn 120% more organic clicks per impression than when they are not cited.+120%organic clicks per impression, cited vs not citedSeer InteractiveAIO Impact on Google CTR: 2026 Updatehttps://www.seerinteractive.com/insights/aio-impact-on-google-ctr-2026-update2026-04-242026-09-27ai-overviews
seer-2026-aio-rate-by-intentGoogle showed an AI Overview on 36% of informational queries but only 8% of commercial and 5% of transactional queries.36%percent of queries showing an AI Overview, by intentSeer InteractiveAIO Impact on Google CTR: 2026 Updatehttps://www.seerinteractive.com/insights/aio-impact-on-google-ctr-2026-update2026-04-242026-09-27ai-overviews
seer-2026-near-me-aio-77pctInformational Google queries containing 'near me' showed an AI Overview 76.9% of the time in Seer's dataset.76.9%percent of 'near me' informational queries showing an AI OverviewSeer InteractiveAIO Impact on Google CTR: 2026 Updatehttps://www.seerinteractive.com/insights/aio-impact-on-google-ctr-2026-update2026-04-242026-09-27ai-overviews; assistant-adoption
openai-2026-chatgpt-900m-wauChatGPT has more than 900 million weekly active users, per OpenAI.900 millionweekly active users (global)OpenAIOpenAI raises $122 billion to accelerate the next phase of AIhttps://openai.com/index/accelerating-the-next-phase-ai/2026-03-312026-09-27assistant-adoption
scorpion-2026-homeowners-ai-22pct22% of U.S. homeowners who recently hired a trades professional now use AI tools such as ChatGPT to research or find recommendations; 83% start their search online.22%percent of US homeowners (recent trades hirers)ScorpionScorpion's New Industry Report Reveals a Disconnect Between Homeowners and Local Service Businesseshttps://www.scorpion.co/about-us/scorpion-news/scorpion-news/2026/scorpions-new-industry-report-reveals-a-disconne/2026-02-192026-09-27assistant-adoption
scorpion-2026-operators-unsure-ai-80pct80% of home-services business leaders surveyed say they are unsure how to appear in AI-driven search results.80%percent of home-services business leadersScorpionScorpion's New Industry Report Reveals a Disconnect Between Homeowners and Local Service Businesseshttps://www.scorpion.co/about-us/scorpion-news/scorpion-news/2026/scorpions-new-industry-report-reveals-a-disconne/2026-02-192026-09-27assistant-adoption
brightlocal-2026-ai-local-recs-45pct45% of U.S. consumers used ChatGPT or other generative AI tools for local business recommendations, up from 6% a year earlier, making AI the third most popular source.45%percent of US consumersBrightLocalLocal Consumer Review Survey 2026https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/2026-02-112026-09-27assistant-adoption
brightlocal-2026-google-reviews-71pctThe share of U.S. consumers using Google to read reviews of local businesses fell from 83% in 2025 to 71% in 2026.71%percent of US consumersBrightLocalLocal Consumer Review Survey 2026https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/2026-02-112026-09-27assistant-adoption
ahrefs-2026-aio-ctr-minus-58pctWhen a Google AI Overview is present, the top-ranking page's average click-through rate is 58% lower (December 2025 data).58%lower CTR for position 1AhrefsUpdate: AI Overviews Reduce Clicks by 58%https://ahrefs.com/blog/ai-overviews-reduce-clicks-update/2026-02-042026-09-27ai-overviews
soci-2026-chatgpt-recommended-4-3-starsLocations that ChatGPT recommends average a 4.3-star rating.4.3-star ratingsaverage rating of ChatGPT-recommended locationsSOCiIn AI-Driven Discovery, Few Brands Are Chosen, Most Disappearhttps://www.soci.ai/news/in-ai-driven-discovery-few-brands-are-chosen-most-disappear/2026-01-282026-09-27assistant-adoption
soci-2026-chatgpt-recommends-1-2pctChatGPT recommended just 1.2% of multi-location brands' locations, versus a 35.9% average appearance rate in Google's local 3-Pack.1.2%percent of brand locations recommended by ChatGPTSOCiIn AI-Driven Discovery, Few Brands Are Chosen, Most Disappearhttps://www.soci.ai/news/in-ai-driven-discovery-few-brands-are-chosen-most-disappear/2026-01-282026-09-27assistant-adoption
adobe-2026-holiday-ai-traffic-693pctTraffic to U.S. retail sites from generative AI tools rose 693.4% year over year in the 2025 holiday season (Nov 1 - Dec 31).693.4%year-over-year increase in AI-referred visits to US retail sitesAdobeAdobe: Holiday Shopping Season Drove a Record $257.8 Billion Online with Consumers Embracing Generative AI Toolshttps://news.adobe.com/news/2026/01/adobe-holiday-shopping-season2026-01-072026-09-27ai-referrals
google-docs-ai-features-no-special-requirementsGoogle states there are no additional requirements or special optimizations to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode; a page must be indexed and eligible to show with a snippet.no additional requirementsdocumented factGoogle Search CentralAI features and your websitehttps://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features2025-12-102026-09-27engine-docs; ai-overviews
google-docs-ai-features-structured-dataGoogle says no special schema.org markup or AI text files are needed for AI Overviews/AI Mode, but recommends structured data match visible text and that Business Profile and Merchant Center information be up to date.no special schema.org structured datadocumented factGoogle Search CentralAI features and your websitehttps://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features2025-12-102026-09-27engine-docs; ai-overviews; assistant-adoption
google-docs-query-fan-outGoogle documents that AI Overviews and AI Mode may use 'query fan-out', issuing multiple related searches across subtopics and data sources to build one answer.query fan-outdocumented factGoogle Search CentralAI features and your websitehttps://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features2025-12-102026-09-27engine-docs; ai-overviews
yext-2025-86pct-citations-brand-managedAcross 6.8 million AI citations from ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity on location-specific queries, 86% came from sources brands control or manage: websites (44%), listings (42%) and reviews/social (8%).86%percent of AI citationsYextYext Research: 86% of AI Citations Come from Brand-Managed Sources, Clarifying How Marketers Can Compete in the AI Search Erahttps://www.yext.com/about/news-media/ai-citations-release2025-10-092026-09-27assistant-adoption; engine-docs
brightlocal-2025-yelp-ai-source-33pctIn BrightLocal's test of local searches across ChatGPT Search, Gemini, Google AI Mode and Perplexity, Yelp was used as a source in 33% of searches, and every platform used directories.33%percent of test searches citing YelpBrightLocalAI Search Makes Local Listings More Important Than Everhttps://www.brightlocal.com/blog/ai-search-using-listings-sources/2025-07-222026-09-27assistant-adoption; engine-docs
pew-2025-aio-clicks-8-vs-15Google users who saw an AI summary clicked a traditional search result in 8% of visits, versus 15% when no AI summary appeared.8%percent of Google search visits with a click on a resultPew Research CenterGoogle users are less likely to click on links when an AI summary appears in the resultshttps://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/22/google-users-are-less-likely-to-click-on-links-when-an-ai-summary-appears-in-the-results/2025-07-222026-09-27ai-overviews
pew-2025-aio-prevalence-18pctAbout one in five (18%) Google searches by U.S. adults in March 2025 produced an AI summary.18%percent of Google searchesPew Research CenterGoogle users are less likely to click on links when an AI summary appears in the resultshttps://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/22/google-users-are-less-likely-to-click-on-links-when-an-ai-summary-appears-in-the-results/2025-07-222026-09-27ai-overviews
pew-2025-aio-source-clicks-1pctGoogle users clicked a link inside the AI summary itself in just 1% of visits to pages that showed one.1%percent of visits to Google results pages with an AI summaryPew Research CenterGoogle users are less likely to click on links when an AI summary appears in the resultshttps://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/22/google-users-are-less-likely-to-click-on-links-when-an-ai-summary-appears-in-the-results/2025-07-222026-09-27ai-overviews
semrush-2025-ai-visitor-4-4xSemrush estimates the average AI-search visitor is worth 4.4 times the average traditional organic search visitor, based on conversion rate.4.4 timesrelative value per visit (conversion rate)SemrushWe Studied the Impact of AI Search on SEO Traffichttps://www.semrush.com/blog/ai-search-seo-traffic-study/2025-06-092026-09-27ai-referrals
bain-2025-80pct-rely-on-ai-summaries80% of consumers rely on AI-written results for at least 40% of their searches, which Bain estimates reduces organic web traffic by 15% to 25%.80%percent of consumersBain & CompanyConsumer reliance on AI search results signals new era of marketing – Bain & Companyhttps://www.bain.com/about/media-center/press-releases/20252/consumer-reliance-on-ai-search-results-signals-new-era-of-marketing--bain--company-about-80-of-search-users-rely-on-ai-summaries-at-least-40-of-the-time-on-traditional-search-engines-about-60-of-searches-now-end-without-the-user-progressing-to-a/2025-02-192026-09-27ai-overviews
bain-2025-llm-users-shopping-recs-42pctAmong users of AI chatbots, roughly 68% use them for research and 42% ask them for shopping recommendations.42%percent of LLM usersBain & CompanyConsumer reliance on AI search results signals new era of marketing – Bain & Companyhttps://www.bain.com/about/media-center/press-releases/20252/consumer-reliance-on-ai-search-results-signals-new-era-of-marketing--bain--company-about-80-of-search-users-rely-on-ai-summaries-at-least-40-of-the-time-on-traditional-search-engines-about-60-of-searches-now-end-without-the-user-progressing-to-a/2025-02-192026-09-27assistant-adoption
gartner-2024-search-volume-25pct-forecastGartner forecast in February 2024 that traditional search engine volume would drop 25% by 2026 as AI chatbots and virtual agents take share.25%forecast decline in traditional search engine volume by 2026GartnerGartner Predicts Search Engine Volume Will Drop 25% by 2026, Due to AI Chatbots and Other Virtual Agentshttps://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-02-19-gartner-predicts-search-engine-volume-will-drop-25-percent-by-2026-due-to-ai-chatbots-and-other-virtual-agents2024-02-192026-09-27search-forecasts

Method

Every figure here was published by someone else. For each one we record the exact sentence from the page, the publisher, the publication date, and the date we checked it against the page; a figure we cannot see on the page is dropped. We prefer primary research (surveys, platform disclosures, analytics firms' own data) over articles that quote it, and link the primary page when it can be reached. Ben Hinton approves each figure before it appears here. Results describe what was measured, not a promise of ranking.

Sources

License: CC BY 4.0. Cite as: AI search statistics: sourced figures on the shift from search to AI assistants, CiteMy (Ben Hinton), 2026-09-27, https://citemy.ai/data/ai-search-statistics