Actual Usage of ChatGPT and Google Search: 72% of AI Search Users Report Faster Decision-Making [Survey of 405 People]

Knowledge Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as "the Company") conducted an independent survey targeting 405 internet users on the "Actual Usage of Search Engines and AI Search (ChatGPT)."

This survey revealed that while search engines continue to maintain their position as a daily information gathering infrastructure, AI search (ChatGPT) is rapidly gaining prominence as a "decision-making tool," transcending its role as a mere information acquisition tool. Notably, approximately 72% of AI search users responded that "the time to decision-making has been shortened," confirming that search behavior is structurally shifting from "searching" to "deciding."

Survey Overview Survey Name Survey on the Actual Usage of Search Engines and AI Search (ChatGPT) Target Audience General internet users Valid Responses 405 people Survey Period April 2026 Survey Method Online questionnaire (simple tabulation) Survey Organizer Knowledge Holdings Co., Ltd. *When quoting data from this release, please clearly state "According to Knowledge Holdings Co., Ltd." as the source. *Constituent ratios are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.

Survey Background In recent years, while narratives such as "search alienation" and "AI shift" have preceded, the quantitative reality of how actual users differentiate between search engines and AI search has not been sufficiently clarified. As a company that supports corporate SEO and LLMO (AI Search Optimization), we determined that accurately grasping changes in user behavior is indispensable as a prerequisite for future information dissemination strategies, and thus conducted this survey.

01 Search Engines Remain "Daily Infrastructure" The survey results showed that 65.4% of respondents use search engines "almost every day," and when combined with "several times a week" (26.4%), more than 90% use them regularly. Figure 1 | Frequency of Search Engine (Google) Usage / n=405 The strength of search engines lies in their comprehensive accessibility to all kinds of information, such as news, official information, reviews, and comparison articles. The behavior of first turning to a search engine when "it's still unclear what is correct" remains firmly established among many users.

02 ChatGPT Evolves into a "Decision-Making Tool" Meanwhile, the use of AI search is steadily expanding. "Almost every day use" was 32.1%, and "several times a week" was 31.6%, with the regular user base totaling 63.7%. Figure 2 | Frequency of ChatGPT (AI Search) Usage / n=405 ▶ Approximately 72% of users feel a reduction in decision-making time The most noteworthy result of this survey is that the use of AI search directly impacts the speed of decision-making. Among those who answered that "the time to decision-making has been shortened" by using AI search, "significantly shortened" was 24.7% + "somewhat shortened" was 47.7% = approximately 72.4%. Figure 3 | Change in Decision-Making Time due to AI Search / n=405 While search engines are "tools for finding information," AI search functions as "tools for summarizing answers." Users are shifting to a behavior pattern where they delegate organization and summarization to AI and focus on their final judgment.

03 "Which one to use first" reveals leadership The results for the first tool used for research showed search engines at 55.3%, AI search at 24.7%, and "differentiated use depending on content" at 20.0%, confirming that search engines still hold the initial lead. Figure 4 | First Tool Used for Research / n=405 On the other hand, AI search demonstrates its strength "when the query is clear," and a natural flow is forming where problems are discovered with search engines and solved with AI search.

04 Clear Role Division by Usage Scene It was found that the roles of search engines and AI search are clearly divided by usage scene. Search engines are overwhelmingly dominant in situations where "multiple pieces of information need to be cross-checked," such as purchasing products, finding restaurants, or checking reviews. In contrast, for investigating specialized knowledge, AI search (38.3%) and search engines (40.7%) are in close competition. In situations requiring immediate answers, AI search reverses the trend (41.7%), establishing a clear division of roles by purpose.