AI's Impact: How ChatGPT Reshaped Information Seeking

For years, when faced with a common question—be it about repairing a household item or understanding an economic concept—most people turned to conventional methods. They would type their query into a search engine like Google, look for a tutorial video on YouTube, or use a voice assistant such as Alexa for immediate answers.

However, the landscape of information retrieval has undergone a dramatic transformation. Today, a growing number of individuals are opting for a different starting point: engaging with AI chatbots like ChatGPT. This fundamental shift in how people access information marks a significant change in everyday technology usage.

The advent of ChatGPT has not eliminated other search tools but has rather repositioned them within the broader information-seeking ecosystem. Its rapid adoption since its introduction in late 2022 underscores its profound impact on user behavior, solidifying its role as a primary gateway to knowledge. This evolution is central to understanding the AI revolution’s effect on daily digital interactions.

The Evolving Landscape of Digital Search

The most significant change brought about by AI chatbots is not the disappearance of established information tools, but rather ChatGPT’s emergence as a new primary access point. Within months of its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT garnered 100 million weekly users, a figure that soared to 800 million by late 2025, making it one of the globe’s most extensively used consumer technologies. This swift ascent highlights a profound alteration in how people engage with digital information.

Data indicates that this widespread adoption is not merely fleeting curiosity but a substantial shift in user behavior. A 2025 Pew Research Center study revealed that 34% of U.S. adults have utilized ChatGPT, doubling the percentage reported in 2023. This usage is particularly pronounced among younger demographics, with a clear majority (58%) of adults under 30 having experimented with the platform. Further polling by AP-NORC showed that roughly 60% of U.S. adults who use AI do so for information searching, making it the most common application of AI. This figure rises to 74% for individuals under 30.

Traditional search engines remain crucial to the online information infrastructure, yet the nature of searches conducted has noticeably changed since ChatGPT’s arrival. Users are increasingly altering their initial choice of tool for information gathering. For years, Google served as the go-to for a vast range of inquiries, from technical troubleshooting to explanations of complex financial topics. These everyday informational queries represented a large segment of search engine traffic. Now, these quick, explanatory questions—the “what does this mean” type—are frequently answered more rapidly and succinctly by ChatGPT than by a page full of links.

This transformation has been widely observed by users. A 2025 U.S. consumer survey indicated that 55% of respondents now use AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini for tasks they previously would have submitted to Google Search. This figure is even higher in the U.K., suggesting a global trend. An analysis of over 1 billion search sessions further confirmed that traffic from generative AI platforms is expanding 165 times faster than traditional searches, with approximately 13 million U.S. adults already prioritizing generative AI for online discovery.

This does not imply a complete abandonment of traditional search engines, but rather that ChatGPT has absorbed specific types of questions where users prefer a direct explanation over a compilation of links. Whether seeking clarification on a policy update, a definition, or a diplomatic response to an email, ChatGPT offers a quicker, more conversational, and seemingly more definitive answer.

Google has not remained passive in this evolving landscape. Its search results have integrated AI, with its Gemini system now often providing “AI Overview” summaries at the top of the page. These summaries instantly address many straightforward questions, sometimes accurately, sometimes with errors. Regardless, many users do not scroll past these AI-generated snippets. This factor, combined with ChatGPT’s influence, has led to a surge in “zero-click” searches. One report, using Similarweb data, showed that Google traffic to news sites declined from over 2.3 billion visits in mid-2024 to under 1.7 billion in May 2025. Concurrently, the proportion of news-related searches resulting in zero clicks rose from 56% to 69% within a single year.

Google’s strength lies in directing users to a diverse array of sources and viewpoints, though its results can sometimes appear crowded and optimized for clicks rather than clarity. In contrast, ChatGPT provides a more focused, conversational answer that prioritizes explanation. However, ChatGPT’s responses often lack the source transparency and multiple perspectives commonly found in a Google search. Both tools can sometimes provide inaccurate information. Google’s advantage is its facilitation of cross-referencing multiple sources, while ChatGPT’s accuracy depends significantly on the quality of the user’s prompt and their ability to discern when a response requires external verification.

The Impact on Smart Speakers and Video Platforms

The influence of ChatGPT extends beyond traditional search engines, also affecting the usage patterns of smart speakers and video platforms like YouTube. Voice assistants, such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home, continue to be popular, though ownership figures have shown a slight decrease. A 2025 summary of voice-search statistics estimated that around 34% of individuals aged 12 and older own a smart speaker, a marginal decline from 35% in 2023. While not a dramatic drop, this lack of growth could signal a shift, with users increasingly directing more complex or detailed inquiries to AI chatbots. For questions requiring comprehensive explanations, multi-step plans, or assistance with drafting content, a voice assistant providing brief, sentence-long answers feels comparatively limited.

In contrast, YouTube maintains its immense popularity and user base. As of 2024, the platform boasted approximately 2.74 billion users, with a consistent growth trajectory since 2010. Among U.S. teenagers, about 90% report using YouTube, establishing it as the most widely used platform within that demographic. However, the nature of video content users seek is undergoing a transformation.

A discernible trend indicates that people often initiate their search for information with ChatGPT, subsequently transitioning to YouTube only when visual, how-to demonstrations are necessary. For numerous everyday tasks, such as understanding health benefits or composing a professional complaint email, individuals prefer ChatGPT for a concise summary, script, or checklist. They typically resort to YouTube when a physical process needs to be observed or understood visually.

This pattern is also evident in more specialized domains. For instance, software engineers have historically relied on platforms like Stack Overflow for technical advice and code snippets. Following ChatGPT’s release, question volumes on such sites experienced a sharp decline. One analysis suggested that overall traffic to Stack Overflow plummeted by approximately 50% between 2022 and 2024. When an AI chatbot can instantly generate code and explanations, fewer individuals feel the need to post their queries in public forums, signaling a clear preference for AI-driven solutions.

Reordering the Digital Information Stack

Three years after its introduction, ChatGPT has not fully replaced the existing technological framework but has instead significantly reordered it. The default method for initiating an information search has fundamentally shifted. Traditional search engines continue to be essential for in-depth research and complex comparisons, offering a wide array of sources and perspectives. YouTube retains its role as the go-to platform for visual learning, enabling users to witness real-world processes and demonstrations. Smart speakers still provide unparalleled convenience for hands-free tasks and quick factual retrieval.

However, when individuals need to comprehend or develop something, many now instinctively begin with a conversational AI interaction rather than typing into a search bar. This represents the true impact of ChatGPT: it did more than just introduce another application to our digital lives; it subtly but profoundly altered the fundamental process of how we seek and access information in the first place, establishing a new paradigm for digital discovery. The conversational interface has become the new starting point for millions, demonstrating a lasting change in information-seeking behavior.