ChatGPT is overtaking Google in one alarming way

OpenAI and its popular AI chatbot ChatGPT may have started the current AI craze, but they've recently been losing some ground to Google Gemini in the AI arms race. However, it seems all is not lost for OpenAI and ChatGPT.

A new survey from subscription bundling platform Bango claims that 72 percent of ChatGPT subscribers say they have set the chatbot as their new browser homepage on both desktop and mobile (as reported by Tom's Guide). If true, that would be a big blow to Google's long-time dominance in the search space. Google hasn't faced a true competitor in the search world in decades, and a U.S. federal judged ruled in 2024 that the company illegally maintained a monopoly in online search. (Google is appealing that antitrust ruling.)

Since ChatGPT exploded onto the scene in 2022, Google and OpenAI have become fierce rivals.

Last month, a report found that ChatGPT had lost six percent of its user base after Google launched an upgraded Gemini 3 model. Then, just weeks ago, Google announced alongside Apple that its Gemini AI model would power Apple Intelligence across all of Apple's devices, which in turn would likely further dilute ChatGPT's market share. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly declared a "code red" at the company in response to increased competition.

ChatGPT is still causing problems for Google in one key area

Bango's survey found that a majority of ChatGPT subscribers now use the AI chatbot as their default homepage, according to Tom's Guide. That's potentially hundreds of millions of people who no longer start their online experience with Google.

One of the ways Google has dominated the search engine space for so long has been by becoming the default search engine when users open their web browsers. For example, Google had been paying Apple a whopping $20 billion per year for the privilege of being the default search engine for iPhone users, until the company was barred from doing so as a result of an antitrust lawsuit.

If this survey data is accurate, OpenAI has been able to convince users to switch from Google to ChatGPT, and without paying billions of dollars a year to do so.

Bango reportedly polled 1,400 U.S. ChatGPT subscribers for this survey, so we should note that these are the opinions of a small group of users who regularly utilize ChatGPT. 

ChatGPT subscribers love ChatGPT

The main takeaway from Bango's survey is that while Google has been making gains when it comes to AI, the search giant may have to defend its own turf from ChatGPT.

However, there are other interesting results from this survey that point to another trend: many hardcore ChatGPT users want to do everything within ChatGPT.

The survey also found that 78 percent of ChatGPT subscribers have added the ChatGPT widget to their mobile device's home screen, per Tom's Guide. This means they don't even have to access a web browser to use it. They just want to go directly to ChatGPT.

Once those users are in ChatGPT, they don't want to go anywhere else. The survey found that 74 percent of ChatGPT subscribers want to shop for products within ChatGPT, and 72 percent say they'll use standalone third-party apps like Spotify and Maps less if they can access them within ChatGPT.

In addition, three-quarters of ChatGPT subscribers said they want to perform all their daily digital tasks within ChatGPT without using any other apps or websites.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.