The search function of ChatGPT, providing the chatbot access to real-time information from the internet, is rapidly gaining traction in Europe. According to a report by OpenAI Ireland Limited, the average number of active users for this function reached 41.3 million monthly by March 31, 2025, compared to just 11.2 million in the previous six months. This was reported by TechCrunch.

This statistic is published by OpenAI in accordance with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which regulates the conduct of large online platforms in Europe. Under this law, services with over 45 million active monthly users must allow opt-outs from recommendation algorithms, provide access to certain data for researchers and authorities, and undergo external audits. If current growth rates persist, ChatGPT Search could fall under these requirements.

Violating DSA rules may lead to fines of up to 6% of the company's global revenue or even a temporary ban on operations within the EU.

Despite its rapid growth, ChatGPT Search is still far behind the market leader, Google. Estimates suggest that the number of search queries on Google far exceeds ChatGPT's figures by hundreds of times. Surveys indicate that only 8% of users are willing to adopt ChatGPT as their primary search engine.

Moreover, ChatGPT Search has its drawbacks, particularly regarding accuracy. Studies show that it frequently makes errors when searching for articles or processing news, even with access to licensed sources.