ChatGPT’s dominance in the generative AI market has markedly declined, as recent data from Similarweb reveals its traffic share fell to 64.6% by January 16, 2026, down from 86.6% a year prior. In contrast, Google’s Gemini surged to capture 22% of global AI traffic, a significant increase from 5.3% twelve months earlier. Competing platforms like Grok and DeepSeek are also gaining ground, with Grok’s share climbing to 3.5%. The dynamics of AI platform usage are rapidly evolving, reflecting behavioral shifts as mobile engagement surpasses web traffic. Despite declines, ChatGPT still drives substantial external web referrals, indicating effective outreach methods. Google’s strategic integration of Gemini across its suite of products strengthens its competitive edge. This shift emphasizes the necessity for marketers to adapt strategies for tracking AI traffic, as traditional metrics become less effective in this fragmented environment. Overall, the competitive landscape for AI tools is intensifying, highlighting the importance of ongoing innovation and adaptation.
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