March 14, 2026 — A Graphite.io study reports that AI Assistants Make Up 56% of Global Search Volume, with top AI assistants generating 45 billion monthly sessions worldwide, equivalent to the volume from the top six traditional search engines.
The analysis by Graphite.io CEO Ethan Smith, titled “AI Is Much Bigger Than You Think”, compares sessions from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok and Claude against Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Yandex and Baidu. In the US, AI Assistants Make Up 56% of Global Search Volume at 34%, or 5.4 billion sessions. Search-like “asking” prompts account for 28% of global AI usage and 17% in the US.
Key Statistics
Search Engine Land covered the study on March 9, 2026, confirming ChatGPT’s 89% dominance in AI sessions and a 26% growth in total discovery volume since 2023. Ignite Visibility, in its March 13 report, highlighted AI Assistants Make Up 56% of Global Search Volume and urged marketers to adopt AI-inclusive SEO strategies.
AI assistants like ChatGPT and Gemini now represent 56% of global search volume, generating 45 billion monthly sessions worldwide.
Methodology and Data
The study uses Similarweb data for web visits and mobile app sessions, noting 83% of AI usage occurs in mobile apps. Adjustments were made via intent classification of approximately 1 million ChatGPT messages. Raw data is available in worldwide and US spreadsheets.
Industry Coverage and Debate
The findings have spread across outlets, with Performance Marketing World noting faster-than-expected AI growth, MEXC News calling it an “AI Search EXPLOSION,” and sites like ALM Corp and Lazysoft echoing AI Assistants Make Up 56% of Global Search Volume.
Search Engine Land mentioned a rebuttal from Rand Fishkin on methodology, including debates over app versus web data and prompt filtering. Graphite CEO Ethan Smith shared key findings on X on March 13, stating the 56% and 45 billion session figures.
AI Assistants Make Up 56% of Global Search Volume, prompting discussions on evolving search behaviors and the need for adapted marketing strategies, as emphasized in multiple reports.