Consumers prefer AI chatbots over Google's search links

Consumers are shifting from traditional search engines like Google to AI chatbots for their online searches. Research by Adobe shows that this change is significant for retailers. The company analyzed over 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites and surveyed more than 5,000 people. AI search referrals surged dramatically during the 2024 holiday season. They increased by 1,300 percent compared to 2023, with Cyber Monday seeing an impressive jump of 1,950 percent. Users referred by AI search tend to engage more with websites, staying on average 8 percent longer and browsing 12 percent more pages than those coming from traditional searches. Despite its rapid growth, AI search tools faced challenges. Google's AI Overviews, launched almost a year ago, had several early mistakes, like giving odd advice. Additionally, the startup Perplexity faced backlash over plagiarism concerns when it generated web pages from existing articles without proper credit. OpenAI is also enhancing its AI chatbot, ChatGPT. It introduced a prototype search feature, focusing on improving user experience and reducing mistakes. OpenAI aims to keep ads out of its chatbot for now, as CEO Sam Altman believes ad-free AI is more appealing to users. A survey showed that 39 percent of participants use AI search for shopping, 55 percent for research, and 47 percent for product recommendations. This growing interest highlights how consumers are experimenting with AI search, seeking better experiences than traditional search engines, which many view as cluttered with ads. If AI search can maintain its advantages and avoid similar pitfalls, it may redefine online searching for consumers.