AI Search Soars: Achieving a 50% Increase in Traffic Over Six Months—The Biggest Winner in This Year's AI Application Race

This year, there has been significant interest in the practical applications of AI products. Although the rapid growth of AI adoption has not met everyone's expectations, data from January to July reveals some encouraging trends:

1. Overall Growth of AI Industry Flow: The total daily traffic for AI products surged from 100 million in February to between 150 million and 160 million by mid-year, marking a remarkable 50% increase. Notably, OpenAI commands around 60% of this traffic, with its dominance widening.

2. Slower Rate of Product Shifts: From September of last year to March of this year, 22 of the top 50 AI products fell off the list. However, only 9 products dropped out from January to July, indicating a stabilizing market.

3. AI Search Products Surge: AI search has emerged as the biggest winner among AI applications this year. The number of AI search products in the top 100 doubled from January to July, with five of them now ranking in the top 20 for traffic.

4. Shift from Consumer to Business Applications: As opportunities for AI companions have faced various setbacks, the focus of AI chat products is shifting from consumer markets to B2B applications.

5. Innovation in AI Music and Video: Breakthrough products like Suno in music and Luma.AI in video emerged this year, attracting numerous new users through unique designs and marketing strategies.

6. Diverse Flow Traffic in AI Imaging: The AI imaging sector, which boasts significant traffic and maturity, experiences a highly fragmented flow, with long-tail products accounting for over 50% of traffic—contrasting sharply with the trend seen in many other AI domains.

7. Emerging Traffic Thresholds: Among the top 50 products, nine have fallen out by July, generally recording below 14 million monthly visits. This suggests that 14 million visits may become a critical threshold for sustaining visibility in the market.

Highlights of AI Industry Changes

- Traffic Surge: The AI industry has seen a notable traffic increase, with the daily average rising to 150-160 million visits during the second half of the year.

- Dominance of ChatGPT: ChatGPT products remain dominant, claiming approximately 80% of industry traffic, with OpenAI's share growing from 55% to 65% in the first seven months of this year.

- AI Search Expansion: Its popularity has surged, with eight AI search products now representing significant portions of traffic, four of which originate from China.

- AI Companions Transition: While AI companions have shown robust performance, their short-term future remains uncertain due to commercialization challenges.

- Growth in AI Music and Video: Both sectors have seen standout products like Suno and Luma.AI gain rapid traction, significantly expanding their user bases.

- Broad Demand for Imaging Products: AI imaging remains fragmented, with no single product dominating the market due to varying user demands across different applications.

- Market Stabilization: The pace of product turnover has slowed, identifying a clear threshold of 14 million monthly visits as a marker for sustainability in the competitive landscape.

In summary, the generative AI landscape is still in its infancy; however, the exploration of practical applications is revealing increasing opportunities, particularly for non-leading products. Success hinges on understanding user needs and enhancing user experiences, aligning with insights from industry leaders.