OpenAI Says ChatGPT Search Queries Now Equal 20 Percent of Google's Volume

OpenAI said ChatGPT now processes 20 percent of the search queries that Google processes, according to consumer product lead Adam Fry. The Verge reported the figure from a Monday press event. OpenAI is the San Francisco-based AI company behind ChatGPT, which it says serves more than 900 million weekly consumers.

How OpenAI Counts a ChatGPT Search

Fry said OpenAI defines a search as any time a user enters a query that results in a web search, rather than tasks such as defining a term or a simple how-to explanation. He did not specify where the Google search volume number came from. For comparison, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said during Google's 2023 antitrust trial that Bing held about 3 percent of the search engine market share after more than a decade of trying. Google argued during that trial that ChatGPT was poised to seriously compete with it. OpenAI likely routes a significant part of its searches through Microsoft Bing alongside its in-house index, though speculation persists that some queries go through Google.

Fry described the direction of the product as "Intelligent UI," meaning a visual and interactive interface inside a chatbot response. "That's where the future of this technology goes. You're talking to a canvas," he said. OpenAI also sees ads as a route to profitability as it approaches an IPO potentially slated for early next year. "Ads have not negatively impacted the product or the usage of the product," Fry said, adding that "most people do not seem to mind ads in the product." OpenAI said last month it would begin showing images of sponsored products and services in ChatGPT rather than just a company name, logo and link.

OpenAI's Funding and Revenue Records

OpenAI closed a $122 billion funding round in April 2026, the largest private market raise in history, according to akta.pro company records. The round was led by Amazon with $50 billion, Nvidia with $30 billion and SoftBank with $30 billion, with Microsoft, BlackRock, Blackstone, Sequoia and Temasek also participating. The same records put monthly revenue at approximately $2 billion, or $25 billion annualized, up from $1 billion per quarter at the end of 2024, with enterprise sales at 40 percent of revenue. OpenAI submitted a confidential draft S-1 to the SEC in June 2026, with management indicating timing may shift toward 2027.

Earlier OpenAI Announcements This Year

OpenAI's search claim follows other announcements in recent days. On November 3, GulfNews reported that OpenAI executive Rod Solaimani said nearly 80 percent of UAE residents aged 18 to 34 use ChatGPT weekly. The same day, The Business Times reported that Singapore's IPOS allowed Porolis Technologies to register the GemGPT trademark, rejecting OpenAI's objections, with Porolis awarded S$10,000 in costs. Also on November 3, Trend reported that Azerbaijan's State Tax Service listed OpenAI among 24 non-resident digital service providers registered for VAT.

What Comes Next for OpenAI

OpenAI has not set a date for its IPO, and its confidential S-1 filing leaves timing open. The company said in June 2026 that it had not decided on timing, as some things it wants to do are likely easier as a private company.