52.3% in Japan Use AI for Search
A survey in Japan showed that 52.3% use generative AI for search, an increase of 31 percentage points from May 2025, compared to a decline in traditional search engines to 86.9%.
A survey conducted by CyberAgent in August involving 9,278 people aged between 15 and 69 in Japan showed that 52.3% use generative AI for search.
The percentage rose by 31 percentage points from 21.3% in May 2025, while the use of traditional search engines fell to 86.9% from 91.9%, according to a report by Digital Today.
The report was also based on data from Chartbeat, which shows a decline in traffic coming from Google Search to news and media sites by about 40% between July 2025 and July 2026.
These figures indicate a gradual shift in search behavior, as users begin receiving direct answers from AI tools before moving on to traditional websites.
What Do These Terms Mean?
Generative AI: A type of artificial intelligence that produces new text, images, or answers based on user requests.
Search Engine Optimization: Optimizing content to appear in traditional search results when users enter specific keywords.
Percentage Point: A unit measuring the difference between two percentages; the difference between 20% and 25% equals five percentage points.
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