Discovery is migrating from traditional search to AI assistants, but the pace is wildly uneven across industries. In some sectors AI already handles a meaningful slice of research queries; in others Google remains dominant. This benchmark estimates AI share of search versus Google share by industry using first-party data from the Presenc AI platform across 2,400+ brands and 18 industries, blended with modeled query-volume estimates, to show where the shift is real in 2026.
AI share of search is the estimated share of discovery and research queries answered primarily by an AI assistant rather than a traditional search results page, modeled per industry.
AI Share of Search vs Google by Industry
Knowledge-heavy, research-led sectors lead the shift; transactional and local-heavy sectors lag.
| Industry | AI Share of Search | Google Share | YoY Change in AI Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS / Technology | 34% | 66% | +11pts |
| Professional services | 29% | 71% | +9pts |
| Financial services | 26% | 74% | +8pts |
| Healthcare / Pharma | 23% | 77% | +7pts |
| Education / EdTech | 31% | 69% | +10pts |
| E-commerce / Retail | 17% | 83% | +5pts |
| Travel / Hospitality | 21% | 79% | +6pts |
| Local services | 11% | 89% | +3pts |
SaaS leads at a 34% AI share, while local services trail at 11%. The verticals shifting fastest, SaaS at +11 points and education at +10 points year over year, are those where buyers ask complex, comparative questions that AI answers well.
Query Intent Behind the Shift
The migration is intent-specific. Research and comparison queries move to AI first; transactional and navigational queries stay on Google.
| Query Intent | AI Share | Google Share | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research / how-to | 41% | 59% | Shifting to AI |
| Comparison / evaluation | 38% | 62% | Shifting to AI |
| Definition / informational | 44% | 56% | Shifting to AI |
| Transactional / buy | 9% | 91% | Stable on Google |
| Navigational / brand | 7% | 93% | Stable on Google |
Informational and research queries lead the move, with AI share at 44% and 41%. Transactional and navigational intent remains firmly on Google at over 90%, because buying and brand-site visits still resolve faster through traditional results.
Key Findings
- SaaS leads at 34% AI share of search. Knowledge-heavy sectors with complex buying journeys are migrating fastest, gaining 11 points year over year.
- The shift is intent-driven, not universal. Informational queries reach 44% AI share while transactional queries sit at 9%, so the migration concentrates in research and comparison.
- Local services barely moved. At 11% AI share and only +3 points year over year, location-bound discovery remains a Google stronghold.
- Upper-funnel exposure is the urgent gap. Because research and comparison intent leads the shift, brands weak in AI visibility lose influence earliest in the buying journey.
Methodology
Figures are aggregated from the Presenc AI monitoring platform via continuous prompt testing across major AI platforms including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and others, representing 2,400+ brands across 18 industries, blended with modeled query-volume estimates. AI share of search reflects discovery and research queries answered primarily by an AI assistant. Estimates are used where public data is unavailable, and benchmarks are reviewed quarterly. Last update June 2026.
How Presenc AI Helps
Presenc AI shows how much of your industry's research and comparison discovery now runs through AI, and how visible your brand is across those queries. It pinpoints the upper-funnel prompts where you are losing share to competitors as discovery migrates. Benchmark your brand with a free audit to see your AI share of voice against these industry shifts.