ChatGPT Search Skyrockets in Europe, OpenAI Data Reveals Massive Growth
ChatGPT search, OpenAI’s feature within ChatGPT that integrates real-time web access into chatbot responses, is rapidly gaining traction in Europe.
According to a report filed by OpenAI Ireland Limited, ChatGPT search had approximately 41.3 million average monthly active “recipients” in the European Union during the six-month period ending March 31, 2025. That’s a massive leap from around 11.2 million average monthly recipients in the six months ending October 31, 2024.
OpenAI releases these figures in compliance with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which regulates major online platforms. Under the DSA, monthly active recipients are defined as people “actually engaging with the service at least once in a given period of time” by “being exposed to information disseminated on the online interface of the online platform, such as viewing it or listening to it, or by providing information.”
One clause of the DSA targets “very large” platforms — those exceeding 45 million users — with obligations to allow opt-outs from recommendation systems and profiling, share internal data with researchers and authorities, and undergo external audits. If ChatGPT search’s growth continues, it may soon cross that threshold.
Failure to comply with DSA regulations could lead to fines of up to 6% of global turnover, and persistent noncompliance could result in temporary suspension in the EU.
ChatGPT Search, which debuted last year, has begun to chip away at dominant players like Google. According to a poll published in September, 8% of users said they’d choose ChatGPT over Google as their primary search engine. Still, Google remains the undisputed leader — one estimate shows it handles 373 times more searches than ChatGPT.
Despite its momentum, researchers have raised concerns about reliability. One study found ChatGPT misidentified 67% of searched-for articles, while another highlighted inaccuracies in its treatment of news content, even from publishers with licensing deals with OpenAI.
OpenAI’s search integration may be growing quickly, but challenges around accuracy, regulation, and competition remain significant hurdles.
