Google's Search Data Sharing Could Harm Rivals, Experts Warn

Google's competitors argue that forcing the company to share its search data could make things worse for them, as it could make them more reliant on Google and undercut their own data systems. Instead, some suggest allowing rivals to show Google ads on their own search engines and earn a share of the revenue. Analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on GOOGL stock with an average price target of $216.16 per share.

OpenAI's ChatGPT, a conversational AI model, has been in the spotlight for its alleged use of Google Search data to enhance real-time responses. This revelation comes as a surprise, given OpenAI's stated intention to challenge Google's search engine supremacy. According to ZDNet [1], OpenAI is leveraging Google Search data to help ChatGPT answer questions, particularly about current events such as news, sports, and financial markets. The AI company reportedly retrieves this data using SerpApi, a third-party web-scraping tool.

The implications of this data reliance are significant. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, previously stated that ChatGPT no longer uses Google Search due to its superior search capabilities. However, the use of Google's data contradicts this assertion. This reliance on Google's data seems to undercut OpenAI's broader strategy of positioning ChatGPT as a Google Search alternative.

Industry experts like Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities argue that the "death of search is greatly exaggerated." Ives cites Alphabet's robust Q2 earnings and revenue as evidence of the enduring strength of traditional search engines [2]. Meanwhile, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on GOOGL stock with an average price target of $216.16 per share.

The use of scraped data raises legal and ethical considerations. Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging copyright infringement in the training and operation of its AI systems [1]. The legal and ethical landscape of AI training methods remains complex, with tech giants and AI companies navigating intricate dependencies within the tech ecosystem.

Google's competitors argue that forcing the company to share its search data could make things worse for them, as it could make them more reliant on Google and undercut their own data systems. Instead, some suggest allowing rivals to show Google ads on their own search engines and earn a share of the revenue.

In conclusion, OpenAI's reliance on Google Search data highlights the complex relationship between tech giants and AI companies. While OpenAI seeks to challenge Google's search dominance, its data reliance underlines the intricate dependencies within the tech ecosystem.

References:
[1] https://theoutpost.ai/news-story/chat-gpt-reportedly-using-google-search-data-to-enhance-real-time-responses-19482/
[2] https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/25110657/google-search-dominance-under-pressure-from-ai-alternatives