The short version

Gartner predicted on January 1, 2024: “Gartner predicts that by 2026, traditional search engine volume will drop by 25% as market share shifts to AI chatbots and AI-driven search. Additionally, Gartner forecasts that by 2028, organic search traffic will decrease by 50% or more.” Verdict: Still evolving. The prediction that traditional search engine volume will drop by 25% by 2026…

Prediction by

Gartner

On January 1, 2024

“Gartner predicts that by 2026, traditional search engine volume will drop by 25% as market share shifts to AI chatbots and AI-driven search. Additionally, Gartner forecasts that by 2028, organic search traffic will decrease by 50% or more.”

Follow-up

The prediction that traditional search engine volume will drop by 25% by 2026 appears to be on track, with evidence from February 2026 showing significant shifts to AI chatbots, while the 2028 prediction is too early to evaluate.

From the High Caliber AI network — see the AI for PR module in the course.