ChatGPT is becoming "a shopping AI agent". What is the future of Google, then?
Yesterday, I came across an article on TechCrunch that OpenAI is upgrading ChatGPT search with shopping features.
Slowly but surely, ChatGPT is taking over Google's role and doing it well. I’ve noticed it myself, especially how it’s replaced much of my browsing.
With Google having most of its revenue from paid search ads, we may soon see advertisers paying for recommendations on ChatGPT.
Does Google have a chance to survive? Or do you have your prognosis on what is more likely to happen?
[This could also change our approach to SEO and similar strategies, especially in marketing.]
In this case, I see several scenarios that could happen:
– OpenAI will have an agreement with Google that it can draw data from Google for some consideration.
– Open AI will create its own browser.
– Google will impose restrictions on OpenAI.
Replies
App Finder
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@konrad_sx I am pretty curious how it changes this game. But for me, ChatGPT overruled Google atm.
App Finder
@busmark_w_nika atm, yes. But Google sure has the people and the money to challenge OpenAI (remember Google engineers developed the transformer architecture)
@konrad_sx but they still have a customer that is not the search user. Shifting things to focus more on UX for search users vs advertisers is going to be difficult. At the very least they will lose revenue.
App Finder
@burninator important point, completely agree
Honestly, I think Google will survive, but it won’t stay on top the same way it is today. bcz chatGPT/AI agents are definitely changing how we start searching & if OpenAI nails shopping and recommendations, that’s going to hit Google’s core revenue model hard.
But here's the thing, Google is not just a search engine anymore. It owns YouTube, Android, Gmail, and Maps; they control the internet’s real estate. Even if search gets disrupted, Google will still have powerful levers to pull. They’ll probably release their own AI agent (even smarter than Bard), push AI into Chrome, Android, and YouTube, and try to keep users inside their walls.
OpenAI and Google are about to become direct rivals for "discovery power." (In my opinion)
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@hamza_afzal_butt Bold point of view (and I like this kind of thinking). Let's see how other giants respond. AFAIK, Openai is also considering its own social media for data gathering. If they win users' sympathy, there will be huge competition between social media giants, Google, OpenAI (and other incoming companies maybe?)
@busmark_w_nika Yeah, we might be witnessing the start of a much bigger platform war. ⚠️
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@hamza_afzal_butt yep, we discussed it here: https://www.producthunt.com/p/openai-api/does-it-make-sense-to-create-ai-based-social-network-and-would-you-use-it :D
we can say:
It’s not "Google dies."
It’s "Google changes — or someone else eats their lunch."
@hamza_afzal_butt on point :)
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@hamza_afzal_butt They are falling asleep tbh :D
@busmark_w_nika might be possible they are preparing something 🤔
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@hamza_afzal_butt Hopefully, otherwise their good times are at the end.
It all boils down to distribution and product stickiness, whoever nails both, wins the game. Also I don't think anyone would beat google at their game.
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@probz The question is... How many people will be willing to play a Google game over time?
Velocity: Prompt Co-Pilot
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@aakashpuri When launch?
Velocity: Prompt Co-Pilot
@busmark_w_nika 17th May, mark the date!
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@aakashpuri Do not hesitate to reach out on LI!
Release AGI
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@matt__mcdonagh In that case, people will not be needed anymore.
(just kidding)
Product Hunt
I'm finding myself going to ChatGPT more and more for decisions like this. The challenge is that they often don't have a current catalog of options.
We're thinking about this as well since one of the ways people use Product is to find the best products. A question in my mind is how much do we optimize Product and catalog to show up in ChatGPT? E.g., maybe build an MCP server vs. how much do we prototype conversational product research within Product Hunt?
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@rajiv_ayyangar A Year ago, I swore that Chatgpt would not replace my Google browsing. And now, here we are. :D
This is a bit of a trade-off.
If the goal is to reach completely new users, building an MCP server might make more sense.
On the other hand, if users are already familiar with the platform, it would be more valuable to improve the search and discovery experience directly within Product Hunt.
At least that’s how it seems to me. These kinds of things are best figured out through testing anyway.
Tyce
Really interesting thread. Feels like we’re watching the unbundling of Google in real time.
Search used to be one-size-fits-all. Now we’re moving toward intent-specific agents—shopping, travel, legal, etc.—and ChatGPT is at the center of that shift.
I don't think google will disappear, but the monopoly on discovery is cracking. The future may belong to whoever builds the most trusted assistant, not the best search index.
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@lylia_djaitpaulien Interesting POV. Maybe AI agents or assistants will lead the way over the next few years... unless something unexpected shifts the landscape.
Google has lost user’s trust. All of their results are gamed SEO sites unless you’re shopping or targeting a brand.
If OpenAI does shopping well they will absolutely crush this revenue stream for google.
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@burninator Google provides other services as well, e.g. emails, etc., but as you mentioned, the pie will be cut into smaller pieces among more players on the market.
@busmark_w_nika Absolutely. I'm specifically referencing their search related ad market. Google isn't going anywhere.
It's exceptionally hard to win back trust once you've lost it though and Google search has been vulnerable as a result of this for a while. They have played the game of blocking others instead of innovating and that's going to cost. (IF OpenAI does chat well)
What people don't realize is that Google has a profound history working with advertisers, consumers and platforms in the EC and retail space. This means that while ChatGPT and Perplexity (yes, the latter already launched their shopping offer, remember?) are challengers, they are still fighting with the giant that has accumulated decades of aptitudes in all directions.
No despise on the challengers of course. All in all it's worth watching how this unfolds.
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@thefullstack The thing is that OpenAI has become one of those giants, too, so there is no lack of money. The one who will be able to better manage money in terms of progress and innovations owns the market.