The GPT effect! Why we trust chatbots more than our mates for answers

Within just three years of its launch, ChatGPT has transformed the way people look up information, becoming the primary tool for millions who once relied mainly on Google or YouTube. Deborah Lee, professor and director of research impact and AI strategy at Mississippi State University Libraries, outlines how the chatbot has reshaped everyday digital behaviour.

Introduced on 30 November 2022, ChatGPT quickly amassed users, reaching 100 million weekly active accounts within months. By late 2025, that figure had risen to 800 million, making it one of the world’s most widely used consumer technologies. A 2025 Pew Research Centre study found that 34 per cent of US adults had used ChatGPT—double the share from 2023—while 58 per cent of adults under 30 had tried it. An AP-NORC poll showed that around 60 per cent of AI users rely on it to search for information.

This shift has not replaced traditional tools but has re-ordered how people search. For years, Google dominated everything from basic definitions to troubleshooting tasks. But ChatGPT now handles the quick “what does this mean?”-type questions more directly than a page of links. A 2025 US consumer survey found that 55 per cent of respondents used ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini chatbots for tasks they previously delegated to Google Search. The trend is more pronounced in the UK.

An analysis of over one billion search sessions showed that traffic from generative AI platforms is growing 165 times faster than traditional search traffic. About 13 million US adults have already adopted generative AI as their primary tool for information discovery.

Google has responded by weaving its Gemini AI system into search results through “AI Overview” summaries that appear above traditional links. However, these snapshots have also contributed to the rise of zero-click searches, in which users do not proceed beyond the results page. Similarweb data shows that Google’s traffic to news websites fell from 2.3 billion visits in mid-2024 to under 1.7 billion in May 2025, while the share of news-related zero-click searches rose from 56 per cent to 69 per cent within a year.

While Google still provides multiple sources and perspectives, results can feel cluttered. ChatGPT offers a more conversational, focused explanation, though it may lack transparent sourcing. Both tools can occasionally make errors, with Google allowing cross-checking and ChatGPT depending on user prompts and verification.

The impact extends beyond search engines. Ownership of smart speakers such as Alexa and Google Home remains high but has slightly dipped, with 34 per cent of Americans aged 12 and older owning a device—down from 35 per cent in 2023. The decline may reflect users shifting more complex queries to AI chatbots. For detailed explanations, planning or drafting text, chatbots offer more utility than short voice-assistant replies.

YouTube, with 2.74 billion global users in 2024, continues to thrive, particularly among teenagers. However, the pattern of use has shifted. Many people now begin with ChatGPT for summaries or scripts before turning to YouTube only if they need to watch a physical demonstration.

Specialised platforms have also seen changes. Question volume on Stack Overflow began dropping sharply after the arrival of ChatGPT, with one analysis suggesting overall traffic fell by around 50 per cent between 2022 and 2024. Chatbots capable of generating code snippets and explanations have reduced the need for traditional programming forums.

Three years on, ChatGPT has not replaced search engines, video platforms or smart assistants, but it has become the starting point for millions when they need clarity, definitions or everyday guidance. As Lee argues, the real “ChatGPT effect” is that people now begin with a chat rather than a search box—quietly redefining the first step of how they look things up.