The chatgpt vs gemini debate has taken a sharp turn in early 2026. A new web traffic chart based on Similarweb data reveals a shifting balance in the AI race and clearly explains why OpenAI reportedly went into “code red” after Google launched Gemini 3. While OpenAI still holds a strong lead, recent growth trends suggest that Gemini is closing the gap faster than expected.
ChatGPT vs Gemini: What the Web Traffic Data Shows
According to Similarweb, December traffic data shows contrasting momentum for the two AI platforms. ChatGPT web traffic declined by 5.6 percent month over month, while Gemini traffic surged by 28.4 percent. This shift began shortly after Google released Gemini 3 Pro in November.
Year over year growth highlights an even more dramatic difference. ChatGPT traffic increased by 49.5 percent, which is impressive for a mature product. Gemini, however, recorded an estimated growth rate of 563.6 percent, reflecting aggressive user adoption and expanding visibility.
ChatGPT Still Leads in Total Usage
Despite the recent slowdown, ChatGPT remains the most visited AI chatbot in the world. In December, ChatGPT attracted approximately 5.5 billion visits, compared to 1.7 billion visits for Gemini. Other AI platforms such as DeepSeek, Grok, Claude, Character.AI, and Perplexity lagged far behind, each drawing fewer than 400 million visits.
That said, the chatgpt vs gemini discussion is shifting from total traffic to growth velocity, which is often a better indicator of future market leadership.
Google’s Ecosystem Advantage in the AI Race
One key reason behind Gemini’s rapid rise is Google’s unmatched ecosystem. Gemini is integrated directly into Google Search, AI Overviews, and other widely used consumer products. Because billions of people already rely on Google every day, Gemini gains exposure without users needing to actively seek out a separate AI chatbot.
ChatGPT, on the other hand, depends more heavily on direct visits and app usage, making user retention and feature innovation critical to sustaining growth.
Why OpenAI Declared “Code Red”
The launch of Gemini 3 reportedly triggered a “code red” inside OpenAI. CEO Sam Altman later confirmed that the company shifted internal priorities to focus heavily on strengthening ChatGPT. Although Altman stated that Gemini 3 did not have the immediate impact OpenAI feared, he acknowledged that it exposed weaknesses in the company’s product strategy that needed rapid correction.
Competition Beyond Text-Based AI
The rivalry extends beyond chatbots into areas like image generation, creativity, and coding assistance. Google recently introduced its Nano Banana Pro image model, prompting OpenAI to respond with ChatGPT Images. Gemini 3 has also received praise for improved visual reasoning and coding performance, increasing pressure across multiple AI use cases.
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