Google Downplays AI Tools’ Influence on Its Search Traffic

The advanced AI tools of today are changing things for people not only for creators, but also for publishers. The more people opt for services like ChatGPT for information, the lesser people will be clicking on search links and visiting websites.

Google’s ad revenue will take a huge hit in this case. Some sites like The New York Times observed an 8% decrease on organic search traffic. As it stands now, ChatGPT is getting 2.5 billion queries daily.

Google, on the other hand, is not a clueless bystander in the AI innovations. For a while now, Google has been offering its users the option to see AI-generated responses to their questions. Because of this, many have speculated that, for the first time in almost two decades, Google’s search and influence might be losing its clout. The search team’s blog post from Google suggests otherwise.

Google Claims AI Is Enhancing Search Experience

Earlier this week, Liz Reid, head of Google Search, published a statement confirming that Google has not seen any decline in organic search traffic or visits to external sites. In simpler terms, Google says its search and ad services are still running effectively.

Reid explains that the rate of users clicking on search links has remained stable. She also notes, “We’re actually sending slightly more quality clicks to websites than a year ago. By quality clicks, we mean those where users don’t quickly back out of the page.”

So, how can we understand the rise in AI usage alongside Google’s search data? The answer isn’t straightforward. From Google’s perspective, the company isn’t falling behind in the AI race. Instead, it appears to be leveraging it.

While it’s true that ChatGPT may have replaced Google for some users, that group likely represents only a small portion of Google’s overall audience.