Sam Altman prefers ChatGPT over Google Search
In a revealing glimpse into the evolving landscape of digital information, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently stated he could not recall the last time he used Google Search, suggesting a personal reliance on his company’s own flagship product, ChatGPT. This assertion, reported on August 15, 2025, from Feeds.Businessinsider, underscores a significant shift in how even industry leaders are interacting with information, moving away from traditional search engines towards conversational AI.
Altman’s preference is rooted in ChatGPT’s rapidly expanding capabilities. OpenAI has strategically integrated robust web search functions directly into its conversational AI, enabling it to pull real-time information from across the internet and various relevant sources. Unlike the traditional list of links provided by search engines, ChatGPT offers concise summaries, up-to-date responses, and live data, complete with clear attributions and source links for verification. This conversational interface allows users to ask follow-up questions, fostering a more interactive and nuanced information retrieval experience.
Beyond mere information lookup, Altman envisions ChatGPT evolving into a comprehensive task-completion and workflow assistant, acting more like a “junior employee” or a persistent AI companion with memory features that learn from past interactions. This strategic pivot moves ChatGPT beyond being a direct “Google replacement” to a tool designed to automate real-world workflows. Altman has also voiced a philosophical objection to advertising-supported models prevalent in traditional search and social media, characterizing an AI search based on advertising as “dystopian”. He prefers OpenAI’s subscription model, where he feels the user is not the “product,” fostering a sense of trust and alignment with user interests that he believes is often absent in ad-driven platforms.
Despite his personal habits and OpenAI’s advancements, Altman has acknowledged the formidable presence of Google. He has stated that ChatGPT will “probably not” replace Google as the primary search engine, recognizing Google as a “ferocious competitor” with a powerful AI team, vast infrastructure, and a well-protected business. Nevertheless, user behavior indicates a growing trend: an Adobe survey revealed that 77% of U.S. ChatGPT users perceive it as a “faster, friendlier Google,” with nearly a quarter now using it as their primary tool for looking things up. This burgeoning adoption has propelled ChatGPT.com to become the fifth most visited site globally.
OpenAI’s ambitions extend far beyond merely challenging existing search paradigms. Altman recently revealed plans for “trillion-dollar investments” in data centers to support the company’s escalating computing needs and even expressed interest in acquiring Google Chrome should potential antitrust actions force its divestiture. He foresees a future where “billions of people a day will be talking to ChatGPT,” hinting at a pervasive integration of AI into daily life. In a bold prediction, Altman even suggested that an AI might be at the helm of OpenAI within three years.
Altman’s personal detachment from Google Search, while symbolic, illustrates a broader industry movement towards conversational AI as a primary interface for information and task management. As AI models become more sophisticated and deeply integrated with real-time web data, the way individuals access, process, and act upon information is undergoing a profound transformation, challenging the long-held dominance of traditional search paradigms.