According to a recent OpenAI report, its ChatGPT Search has experienced significant user growth in the European Union over the past six months, reaching approximately 41.3 million active users. This represents a nearly threefold increase from the 11.2 million users in October 2024. This surge suggests that ChatGPT Search may soon surpass the 45 million user threshold set by the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), triggering stricter regulatory measures.
The DSA is a law designed to regulate online services, outlining several requirements for “very large online platforms.” When a platform's average monthly active users exceed 45 million, it must meet a series of new requirements, including allowing users to opt out of personalized recommendations, sharing data with researchers and regulators, and undergoing independent audits. These regulations aim to enhance user safety and platform transparency.
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Despite its strong market performance, ChatGPT Search faces intense competition. Google currently dominates the market, handling 373 times the search volume of ChatGPT. However, ChatGPT Search's rise is noteworthy. A survey indicated that approximately 8% of respondents preferred ChatGPT over Google as their primary search engine.
However, researchers have raised concerns about ChatGPT Search's reliability. One study revealed that ChatGPT misidentified 67% of results when searching for articles. These issues highlight the need for improvement in the accuracy of AI-powered search engines, particularly concerning news content, where ChatGPT's performance isn't always satisfactory.
With its burgeoning user base, OpenAI must carefully navigate the upcoming regulatory challenges to ensure platform compliance and maintain user trust. Future success will depend on balancing user growth with regulatory compliance.