The competitive landscape of AI chatbots is shifting dramatically as Google’s Gemini gains significant ground against OpenAI’s ChatGPT, according to recent web traffic data from Similarweb. In December, Gemini experienced a remarkable 28.4% month-over-month traffic increase, while ChatGPT saw a 5.6% decline during the same period. This trend becomes even more striking when examining year-over-year growth: ChatGPT traffic increased 49.5%, while Gemini’s traffic skyrocketed by an astounding 563.6%.
Despite these shifting dynamics, ChatGPT maintains a commanding lead in absolute numbers, attracting 5.5 billion visitors in December compared to Gemini’s 1.7 billion. Other AI chatbots including DeepSeek, Grok, Character.AI, Perplexity, and Claude all trailed significantly with fewer than 400 million visitors each.
The traffic surge for Gemini follows Google’s November release of Gemini 3 Pro, the first model in its Gemini 3 class. The new iteration was praised for being more visual and creative than previous versions, with enhanced coding capabilities. Google’s strategic advantage lies in its ability to seamlessly integrate AI within its dominant search products, leveraging its massive existing user base. As the article notes, “basically everyone uses Google” — a reality that forces OpenAI to convince users to choose ChatGPT over Google’s established ecosystem.
The competition extends beyond chatbots into image generation, where both companies are actively competing. Shortly after Google launched its Nano Banana Pro AI image model, OpenAI countered with ChatGPT Images.
Gemini 3’s launch reportedly triggered a “code red” at OpenAI, with CEO Sam Altman instructing staff via internal Slack to prioritize ChatGPT development while postponing other product plans. In December, Altman acknowledged on the “Big Technology” podcast that while Gemini 3 didn’t have “the impact we were worried it might,” it did “identify some weaknesses in our product offering strategy” that the company is addressing quickly. He indicated the code red period would last six to eight weeks total.
Important context: The Similarweb data only captures visits to chatgpt.com and gemini.google.com, excluding mobile app usage and other integrations like Google’s AI Overviews in Search, meaning the complete competitive picture may differ from web traffic alone.
Key Quotes
Basically everyone uses Google — OpenAI must convince people to turn to ChatGPT instead of the search giant’s products.
This observation captures the fundamental competitive challenge facing OpenAI. While ChatGPT pioneered consumer AI chatbots, Google’s massive existing user base and ability to integrate AI directly into Search creates a significant distribution advantage that’s difficult to overcome.
But it did — in the same way that DeepSeek did — identify some weaknesses in our product offering strategy, and we’re addressing those very quickly.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made this statement on the “Big Technology” podcast, acknowledging that while Gemini 3 didn’t devastate OpenAI as feared, it exposed strategic vulnerabilities. This candid admission reveals how competitive pressure is forcing rapid product evolution across the AI industry.
code red periods normally last six to eight weeks
Altman’s comment provides insight into OpenAI’s internal crisis response mechanisms, suggesting the company has established protocols for responding to competitive threats. This indicates the AI race has matured to the point where companies expect and plan for periodic competitive emergencies.
Our Take
The traffic trends reveal what many industry observers suspected: Google’s integration strategy is working. While OpenAI created the consumer AI chatbot category, Google’s ability to embed Gemini across its ecosystem — Search, Gmail, Docs, and more — provides frictionless access that standalone products struggle to match. The 563.6% growth rate is particularly striking because it suggests Google is converting its existing user base rather than just competing for new AI users. However, ChatGPT’s 5.5 billion visitors still dwarf Gemini’s 1.7 billion, indicating OpenAI’s first-mover advantage remains substantial. The real question is whether this represents a temporary market correction or the beginning of Google’s inevitable dominance. OpenAI’s “code red” response and rapid product adjustments show the company recognizes the existential nature of this competition. The AI race is no longer about who builds the best model, but who can most effectively deliver AI capabilities to users where they already are.
Why This Matters
This traffic data reveals a critical inflection point in the AI industry’s competitive dynamics. While OpenAI pioneered the consumer AI chatbot market and maintained dominance, Google’s integration advantages and technical improvements are enabling rapid market share gains. The 563.6% year-over-year growth for Gemini demonstrates how quickly the AI landscape can shift when tech giants leverage their existing ecosystems.
For businesses and developers, this signals an increasingly multi-platform AI environment where no single provider can be assumed to maintain permanent dominance. The competition is driving rapid innovation cycles, as evidenced by OpenAI’s “code red” response and quick product adjustments. This benefits consumers through better products and features, but creates strategic challenges for enterprises building AI-dependent systems.
The battle also highlights a fundamental asymmetry: Google’s distribution advantage through Search versus OpenAI’s need to build standalone user habits. This dynamic will likely influence AI adoption patterns, business models, and the broader question of whether AI becomes a destination product or an embedded feature within existing platforms. The outcome will shape how billions of people interact with AI technology daily.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-chatgpt-vs-gemini-web-traffic-chart-2026-1