March 14, 2026 — A Graphite.io study published by CEO Ethan Smith shows that AI assistants make up 56% of global search volume, equivalent to 45 billion monthly sessions worldwide and 34% in the U.S. with 5.4 billion sessions.
The report, analyzing data from major AI tools including ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok and Claude, adjusts for “Asking” prompts—search-like queries—equating AI to 28% of global search and 17% in the U.S. ChatGPT dominates with 89% of global AI sessions and 86% in the U.S., while 83% of worldwide AI usage occurs in mobile apps.
“We originally sought to evaluate our hypothesis that most claims about the usage of AI were overstated, and that usage of AI was smaller and growing more slowly. However, upon closer inspection of the data, we found that not only are the claims that AI may soon overtake search not overstated, they are understated.”
Smith wrote in the study.
Industry Coverage
AI assistants make up 56% of global search volume, a benchmark echoed across digital marketing outlets. Search Engine Land on March 9 reported the 45 billion sessions figure, noting AI’s growth outpaces prior estimates and expands total search activity by 26% globally since 2023. Ignite Visibility on March 13 highlighted U.S.-specific data and ChatGPT’s dominance, urging SEO adaptation.
Other coverage includes ALM Corp and Innermedia on March 11, Performance Marketing World on March 10, and Lazysoft on March 9, all citing Graphite.io’s authoritative findings on AI assistants make up 56% of global search volume.
CEO’s Social Media Post
Smith shared the findings on X, stating AI assistants make up 56% of global search volume and listing key metrics including 45 billion worldwide sessions and mobile dominance.
“Monthly sessions of AI are now 56% the size of search worldwide and 34% in the US… AI now receives 45B monthly sessions worldwide, and 5.4B monthly sessions in the US.”
His post on March 13 garnered views and emphasized that global AI usage is seven times larger than in the U.S., with U.S. growth at 300% from December 2024 to 2025 despite a worldwide plateau since July 2025.
SEO and Marketing Implications
The study counters zero-sum views, showing traditional search stable while AI adds to the pie. Graphite.io notes opportunities in both SEO and AI Engine Optimization (AEO), with Google’s search share dropping to 71% globally. Marketers must optimize for mobile AI queries amid this shift where AI assistants make up 56% of global search volume.