Key stat: 82% of weekly AI users use Google Search every day, compared with 71% of all internet users, according to a May 2026 survey from EMARKETER.

Beyond the chart:

• AI isn't replacing search so much as splitting the job. In fact, 63% of AI searchers turn to an assistant mainly for a direct answer to a specific question, while search engines stay the go-to for browsing and comparing multiple sources, according to YouGov.
• Still, the "everyone uses both" story has limits for younger users. Gen Z visits to software sites dropped nearly 43% over five months as AI tools absorbed tasks like formatting and file conversion, according to Comscore.

Use this chart: Show this to anyone predicting the death of search. Drop it into a media planning or SEO strategy deck to make the case that AI and Google are additive, not either/or, and that your brand still needs to show up in both places to reach the same user.

Related EMARKETER reports:

• US Search Advertising Forecast 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)
• US GenAI Consumer Adoption Forecast H1 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)

Methodology: Data is from the May 2026 EMARKETER Survey titled "AI in the Consumer Journey: H1 2026." 1,570 US internet users ages 15-80 were surveyed during April 14-30, 2026. Respondents were selected to align with the US population on the criteria of age (among ages 15-80), gender, and household income. Data has been weighted to the general population for age, gender and household income, as well as for social media and search use. The survey was fielded by a third-party sample provider. Data has a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.