The way we find information online is evolving at lightning speed. Two years ago, “just Google it” was gospel; today, billions turn to AI chatbots—ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini—for instant, conversational answers. But does that mean the classic search engines are losing ground, or are both formats carving out complementary roles?
This new study compares global web traffic across the top 10 AI chatbots and top 10 search engines from April 2023 to March 2025. Here’s the full picture, plus real user sentiment, expert voices, and a hybrid strategy you can put into action immediately.
1. Explosive Chatbot Growth vs. Steady Search Reboun
- Chatbots surged 80.9% YoY as improved LLMs, browser plugins, and partnerships (e.g., DeepSeek in Motorola Razr) made them ubiquitous.
- Search Engines dipped slightly in early 2024 but rebounded via built-in AI overviews (Google’s SGE, Bing’s Copilot), peaking at 163.7 B in March 2025.
Insight: Chatbots are booming, yet search engines remain the traffic powerhouse—evolving with AI rather than ceding ground.
2. Leaderboards & Market Shares
AI Chatbots (Apr ’24–Mar ’25 vs Apr ’23–Mar ’24):
- ChatGPT: 47.7 B vs 28.5 B visits → +67.1% (86.3% share)
- DeepSeek: 1.7 B vs 1.5 M visits → +113 007%
- Gemini: 1.7 B vs 1.2 B visits → +41.3%
- Perplexity: 1.3 B vs 388.5 M visits → +243.7%
- Claude: 1.2 B vs 240.1 M visits → +383.4%
- Microsoft Copilot: 920.4 M vs 80.8 M visits → +1 038.7%
- Grok: 216.5 M vs 61.2 K visits → +353 787.6%
Search Engines:
- Google: 1.631 T vs 1.65 T visits → –1.4% (87.6% market share)
- Bing: 60.1 B vs 47.0 B visits → +27.8%
- Yandex: 41.5 B vs 31.3 B visits → +32.7%
- Yahoo: 41.3 B vs 53.2 B visits → –22.5%
DuckDuckGo: 37.0 B vs 40.5 B visits → –8.8%
3. Regional & Regulatory Dynamics
- China: Baidu (16.7 B visits) rebounded after integrating DeepSeek’s AI in early 2025.
- Europe & Asia: Yandex (+32.7%) and Naver (+34.3%) expanded via localized AI features and partnerships.
- Privacy Niches: Ecosia (+17.8%) and Brave (+64.2%) thrived on mission-driven branding and AI extensions.
- Regulatory Angle: Instagram’s “Edits” launched partly in anticipation of U.S. TikTok/CapCut restrictions.
4. Demographics & Use Cases
- Gen Z & Millennials: Chatbots for quick inspiration (“keto breakfast hack?”), search engines for deep-dive research.
- Professionals & Researchers: Hybrid flows—chatbots for summaries, search engines for source validation.
- Local & Urgent Queries: Search engines (especially map-based SERPs) dominate “near me” and emergency needs.
Action: Layer your content—FAQ-style chatbot answers plus long-form, SEO-rich guides—to win both interfaces.
5. Introducing AEO: Extending SEO into AI Chat
As clients chase page-one rankings, they must also capture the “answer box” in AI assistants—a practice known as Answer Engine Optimization (AEO).
- Why AEO Matters: When users ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini “What’s the best…?” your brand needs to surface first and on-message—just like SEO ensures in Google.
- Core AEO Tactics: Craft concise Q&A snippets, add FAQ schema or a specialized llms.txt, and maintain a consistent brand voice so chatbots deliver accurate responses.
Monitoring AEO at Scale: Manual checks can’t keep up. Tools like MentionedBy.ai automatically track over 20 AI models in real time, flag sentiment shifts and hallucinations, and benchmark you against competitors—empowering brands to optimize for chat-based visibility.
6. Public Sentiments: What Real Users Are Saying
Kommon Poll captures the unfiltered pulse:
7. Voice & Emerging Interfaces
- Smart Assistants: Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant now leverage chatbot back-ends—voice queries reward clear, direct answers.
- AR & Wearables: In-car systems and smart glasses favor hands-free conversational prompts.
Forward Look: Use FAQ schema and concise answer snippets to prepare for voice-first experiences.
8. Action Plan: A Truly Hybrid Strategy
- Audit & Extract: Turn top-ranking pages into chatbot-friendly Q&A snippets.
- Schema & Prompts: Implement FAQ schema and craft sample chatbot prompts.
- Content Layering: Pair in-depth articles with quick-hit “answer cards.”
- Sentiment & Rumor Monitoring: Use Kommon Poll to track public buzz, and MentionedBy.ai to track AI chatter.
- A/B Test Cross-Platform: Compare traffic, engagement, and sentiment across search vs. chat.
9. Looking Ahead
- AI-Enhanced Search Engines: Deeper LLM integrations will blur lines between search and chat.
- Vertical & Niche Bots: Industry-specific assistants will demand tailored AEO.
- Real-Time Adaptation: Monitor emerging AI tools with MentionedBy.ai to stay first-to-act.
10. The Verdict
Chatbots excel at instant discovery. Search engines remain crucial for thorough research. The future belongs to brands that master both: blending speed with depth, conversation with context.
Ready to stay ahead of the curve? 🚀 Keep following Kommon Poll for more expert tips, emerging trends, and real-time insights—so you’re always first to know what’s next in social listening and AI.
- 🤖 Explore MentionedBy.ai (www.mentionedby.ai) to track AI-generated brand mentions and optimize your AEO strategy.
By integrating SEO, AEO, and real-time monitoring tools, your brand can dominate both traditional search results and the next wave of AI-driven customer interactions.
