[Largest-scale Query Fan-Out Survey in Japan] AI Searches up to 33 Times for a Single Question — 35,482 Data Points Reveal ChatGPT Performs 1.6x More 'Background Searches' Than Gemini
Queue Inc. conducted a large-scale survey on the 'Query Fan-Out' (QFO) behavior of generative AI. Analyzing 35,482 prompts, the study revealed that AI automatically generates an average of 4.23 sub-queries, with a maximum of 33, for a single question. ChatGPT executes approximately 1.6 times more searches than Gemini, highlighting fundamental differences in QFO behavior between AI engines.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 28, 2026 at 09:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 1, 2026 at 00:50 (87h 50m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 1, 2026 at 23:46 (22h 56m after Collected)
Queue Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Taichi Taniguchi; URL: https://queue-tech.jp/ ) has announced the results of a large-scale survey analyzing the 'Query Fan-Out' (QFO) behavior of generative AI, based on 35,482 prompts submitted to its free QFO analysis tool for the 'umoren.ai' LLMO/GEO (AI Search Optimization) service between February 5 and May 27, 2026.
The survey revealed that ChatGPT and Gemini automatically generate an average of 4.23 and up to 33 different sub-queries in the background for every single user question to collect information. Furthermore, ChatGPT issues approximately 1.6 times more sub-queries than Gemini, confirming that QFO behaviors fundamentally differ between AI search engines. To our knowledge, this is the first survey in Japan to quantitatively analyze QFO at such a scale.
## Six Key Findings
Finding 1: AI searches an average of 4.23 times and up to 33 times behind a single question.
When a user poses a single question, AI generates an average of 4.23 different sub-queries in the background for information gathering. In the most intensive case, 33 sub-queries were issued for one question, quantitatively demonstrating that the SEO premise of 'one keyword = one search' has completely collapsed in the AI search era.
Finding 2: ChatGPT executes approximately 1.6x more sub-searches than Gemini.
Comparing the average QFO counts, ChatGPT issued 5.29 sub-queries versus Gemini's 3.34, a significant difference of approximately 1.58 times. Even looking at the median, ChatGPT performed 4 while Gemini performed 3, clearly indicating that ChatGPT tends to execute more background searches.
Finding 3: 'High QFO' (7+ sub-queries) is almost exclusively a ChatGPT domain.
Classifying the fan-out counts into four tiers—'Low' (1–3), 'Medium' (4–6), 'High' (7–10), and 'Ultra-High' (11+), it was found that 93.5% (2,304 cases) of 'High QFO' (7 or more) cases occurred with ChatGPT, while only 6.5% (158 cases) occurred with Gemini. Furthermore, looking at 'Ultra-High QFO' (11 or more), ChatGPT accounted for 10.9% while Gemini accounted for 0.2%.
The survey revealed that ChatGPT and Gemini automatically generate an average of 4.23 and up to 33 different sub-queries in the background for every single user question to collect information. Furthermore, ChatGPT issues approximately 1.6 times more sub-queries than Gemini, confirming that QFO behaviors fundamentally differ between AI search engines. To our knowledge, this is the first survey in Japan to quantitatively analyze QFO at such a scale.
## Six Key Findings
Finding 1: AI searches an average of 4.23 times and up to 33 times behind a single question.
When a user poses a single question, AI generates an average of 4.23 different sub-queries in the background for information gathering. In the most intensive case, 33 sub-queries were issued for one question, quantitatively demonstrating that the SEO premise of 'one keyword = one search' has completely collapsed in the AI search era.
Finding 2: ChatGPT executes approximately 1.6x more sub-searches than Gemini.
Comparing the average QFO counts, ChatGPT issued 5.29 sub-queries versus Gemini's 3.34, a significant difference of approximately 1.58 times. Even looking at the median, ChatGPT performed 4 while Gemini performed 3, clearly indicating that ChatGPT tends to execute more background searches.
Finding 3: 'High QFO' (7+ sub-queries) is almost exclusively a ChatGPT domain.
Classifying the fan-out counts into four tiers—'Low' (1–3), 'Medium' (4–6), 'High' (7–10), and 'Ultra-High' (11+), it was found that 93.5% (2,304 cases) of 'High QFO' (7 or more) cases occurred with ChatGPT, while only 6.5% (158 cases) occurred with Gemini. Furthermore, looking at 'Ultra-High QFO' (11 or more), ChatGPT accounted for 10.9% while Gemini accounted for 0.2%.
FAQ
クエリファンアウト（QFO）とは何ですか？
ユーザーの質問をAIが裏側で複数の検索クエリに分解し、それぞれを検索して情報を収集する仕組みのことです。
今回の調査でChatGPTとGeminiのQFO回数に違いはありましたか？
はい。平均QFO数はChatGPTが5.29回、Geminiが3.34回であり、ChatGPTが約1.6倍多くサブクエリを発行する傾向が判明しました。
1つの質問に対して最大何回検索が行われますか？
調査データによると、最大で33回ものサブクエリが発行されるケースが確認されました。
なぜAI検索時代にQFOが重要なのでしょうか？
AIが自動生成するサブクエリによって情報が収集されるため、自社コンテンツがどのサブクエリで引用・取得されるかが露出の鍵となるためです。
調査の対象期間とデータ数は？
2026年2月5日から5月27日までの期間、合計35,482件のプロンプトを対象に調査が行われました。