Survey Says: Search Habits Are Changing (Slowly)

Read time: 2 minutes

In the last newsletter, , I asked you to take a quick 6-question survey about how you're searching for information these days – especially now that generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google's new AI Overviews are in the mix.

Twelve of you responded, and the answers gave me a snapshot of how small business owners (and curious minds) like you are adapting – or not – to the AI-powered internet.
Here’s what stood out:

Google’s AI Overviews? Many of You Aren’t Even Noticing

Only 8% of you say you usually read those AI-generated summaries at the top of Google results. More than 40% skip them, and a third haven’t even noticed them.

And even when you do see them, half of you go straight to regular links anyway. Just one person said they rely on the overview alone.

It seems Google’s new “smart answers” aren’t yet earning your trust.

Most of You Have Tried AI Tools

75% of respondents have used a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Claude.
Only 1 in 6 said they hadn’t used — or even heard of — these tools.

That tells me this audience is tech-aware and willing to explore what AI can do.

Google Is Still the Go-To — But It's Slipping

When I asked how your use of search engines has changed over the past year:

42% said they use Google about the same
33% said they use it less often
25% said they use it more

So it’s a mixed picture, but clearly, AI tools are starting to chip away at Google’s dominance.

Google vs. AI: Who Do You Trust More?

When it comes to getting accurate information:

58% trust Google search more than AI tools
Only 17% trust AI more
The rest are split or unsure

So while many of you use AI, you're still turning to Google when you need something you can count on.

A Few Comments

“I stopped using Google search for the most part. I use DuckDuckGo a lot.”

“I use ChatGPT for ideas and editing content, but still use Google for general research.”

“I ask more complex, nuanced questions, and I ask for AI to draw conclusions for me.”

“It'll be good to do this EXACT SAME survey next year to see what's changed. Put a note on your calendar for your future self :-)”

(I did. Thanks for the reminder!)

Until next time

The next newsletter arrives Aug. 12. The month of August is recognized as National Back to School Month, National Golf Month, and International Peach Month. The first Tuesday in August is National Night Out, and the second Saturday is National Yard Sale Day.

Until next time, be grateful. Be generous. Be patient. Love.

Thanks for spending some of your time with me, . I appreciate you.

Mark

P.S. - This newsletter was 98 percent created by ChatGPT. Could you tell?