How big AI search is, how much traffic it sends and how that traffic converts, with sources.

The best free resources

1. AIO Impact on Google CTR: September 2025 Update — Tracy McDonald, Seer Interactive (2025-11-04)
   Organic CTR −61%, but cited brands get 35% more organic clicks.

2. New Research: Search Happens Everywhere (41 websites) — Rand Fishkin, SparkToro (2026-03-03)
   Sizes AI search honestly: AI tools ~3.2% of US desktop search activity.

3. AI Traffic Converts at 3x the Rate of Other Channels (Study) — Ihab Rizk, Microsoft Clarity (2025-11-06)
   1,200+ sites: AI referrals <1% of traffic but convert ~3x.

4. AI Search Isn't Replacing Google, It's Layering On Top – Similarweb Data — Greg Jarboe, Search Engine Journal (2026-07-30)
   95% of ChatGPT users also use Google; growth and audience stats.

5. How People Use ChatGPT (NBER Working Paper 34255) — Aaron Chatterji, David Deming et al., NBER / OpenAI (2025-09)
   1.5M conversations: what people use ChatGPT for; info-seeking share.

Curated by effectiveGEOstrategy.com. Every link checked 2026-11-10. Know a better free resource? Tell us.