BrightEdge, a global leader in AI-powered organic search and digital marketing automation, has released new data showing that Google has regained market share for the first time in more than nine months. The rebound may appear slight, rising from 90.54 percent to 90.71 percent, but this modest gain represents billions in potential revenue. The findings were revealed through BrightEdge’s newly launched AI Market Pulse, a quarterly benchmark that examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of search and online discovery.
For nearly a year, Google had experienced a slow decline in its search dominance as AI challengers entered the market. Now, that downward trend has reversed. BrightEdge’s research indicates that the introduction of Google’s AI Mode has played a crucial role in this recovery. Increased activity in long-tail search queries on Google suggests that users are embracing the new AI-enhanced features, boosting the platform’s overall share.
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Meanwhile, BrightEdge’s referral data shows that AI-powered search engines such as ChatGPT and Perplexity still represent less than one percent of total search referrals. For the first time, the collective group of AI competitors has lost market share. Other players like Grok and Claude are growing, but at a much slower pace. According to the report, Claude’s referrals are 60 times smaller than ChatGPT’s, while Grok’s referrals are 200 times smaller.
“In the last year, we’ve seen Google do a solid job of staving off the AI bleed and the search market has simply expanded around them, but the question has remained: what does all of this mean for Google in the long-term?” said Jim Yu, CEO of BrightEdge. “For the first time, Google is gaining market share, demonstrating their strategy for durable success which isn’t just to increase or monetize searches is working.”
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The shift has major implications for marketers navigating a fast-changing search environment. Brands now need to focus on both traditional search optimization and AI-driven discovery. As Google regains ground, the most effective strategy remains to optimize content once and maximize visibility across both traditional search engines and AI platforms.
BrightEdge’s technology suite, including AI Catalyst, equips marketers with the tools to monitor performance shifts, adapt to new search dynamics, and maintain visibility as the market evolves. As AI reshapes discovery, the ability to stay ahead of these changes will define success for brands competing for attention in an increasingly fragmented search ecosystem.
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