Google search interest in artificial intelligence (AI) has surpassed that of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency-related terms, marking a notable shift in user preferences, according to data from Google Trends. The surge in AI searches coincides with the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November 2022, indicating heightened curiosity and interest in AI developments compared to crypto-related topics.


Key Points:

  • Search Interest Shift: Data from Google Trends reveals that searches for "AI" overtook searches for "Bitcoin" and "crypto" around August 2022. The trend intensified in November 2022, aligning with the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT.

  • Google Trends Scores: Currently, worldwide search interest in "AI" holds a Google Trends score of 91, while "Bitcoin" has a score of 22. The scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a higher proportion of total searches.

  • Bitcoin Performance: Bitcoin has experienced a bear market cycle throughout the latter half of 2021 and most of 2022. While it began regaining ground in 2023, the overall search interest has been surpassed by the surge in AI-related searches.

  • AI Developments in 2022: The field of artificial intelligence saw significant developments in 2022, including concerns about job displacement, the rise of AI nude services, and the launch of new chatbots such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, Meta AI, and GrokAI.

  • Global Interest: Google Trends data indicates that Bitcoin saw the most interest from users in El Salvador, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Switzerland. In contrast, AI garnered particular interest from users in Vietnam, China, the Philippines, and Myanmar.

  • User Commentary: Some users on social media pointed out the disparity, suggesting that the age of interest might contribute, with Bitcoin and crypto being relatively older topics that users may have extensively searched in prior years.

  • Job Searches: In July, analysis by crypto data aggregator CoinGecko revealed that AI surpassed crypto in job searches, with the launch of ChatGPT leading to a surge in searches for "AI jobs," outpacing searches for "crypto jobs" four times over.

Implications for Technology Trends: The shift in search interest from Bitcoin and crypto to AI suggests a growing fascination with developments in artificial intelligence. The launch of advanced AI models, such as ChatGPT, and the broader applications of AI in various industries have captured the attention of users worldwide, indicating a keen interest in the evolving landscape of AI technologies.

Conclusion: The data highlighting the surge in AI-related searches compared to Bitcoin and crypto reflects the dynamic nature of user interests in technology trends. The advancements and discussions surrounding AI, particularly with the launch of innovative models, have positioned it as a focal point of curiosity and exploration, outpacing search queries related to cryptocurrency. As technology continues to evolve, user preferences in search topics offer insights into the shifting dynamics of interest and awareness.


(FELIX NG, COINTELEGRAPH, 2023)