ChatGPT vs Google: AI Overviews and the Answer Engine Era

Synthminds
Oct 3
5 min read

Summary

In this 5-minute episode, we break down ChatGPT vs Google—how ChatGPT reset expectations for direct answers, how Google’s AI Overviews respond, why organic and paid visibility can decline when AI answers appear, and why brands must become the authoritative answer across surfaces.

Quick takeaways

We’ve moved from “ten blue links” to answer results.
When AI Overviews appear, average CTR can drop for organic results; forecasts also suggest lower paid CTR on those pages.
A recent analysis found 62% of links cited in AI Overviews were from domains outside the top 10 organic results.
Strategy has to go beyond “rank on Google” to becoming the citable source of truth.

ChatGPT vs Google (What actually changed)

Expectation shift: ChatGPT conditioned users to expect direct, conversational answers.
Google’s response: AI Overviews (Gemini) place a synthesized answer above results—described as the biggest search interface change in years.
Not a two-horse race: Microsoft’s Copilot, Anthropic’s Claude (with web search + citations), and Perplexity position around answers, not just links.

Traffic & ads: what the episode highlights

Organic: When an AI Overview appears, one study shows ~34.5% average CTR drop to websites.
Paid: One forecast suggests CTR could drop from ~21% to ~10% when an AI Overview is present.
Implication: plan for less SERP real estate; design content and capture paths you control.

Where AI Overviews get answers

A recent analysis revealed 62% of cited links came from domains not ranking in the top 10 prior to the overview.
So your move: write concise, citable explanations, add FAQs, and present evidence clearly so you’re easy to reference.

Strategic takeaway

It’s no longer just “rank and click.” It’s “be the answer”—on Google, ChatGPT, Copilot and Perplexity.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro: Why this battle matters

00:20 ChatGPT changed expectations (answers, not links)

00:45 Google’s response: AI Overviews (Gemini) & search interface change

01:12 Not a two-horse race: Copilot, Claude, Perplexity

01:45 Traffic impact: organic & paid visibility can drop

02:15 Where AI Overviews get answers & what that means

02:50 The new playbook: be concise, be citable, be structured

03:20 Strategy shift: beyond “rank on Google”

04:10 Executive takeaway & what we’ll cover next

04:55 Outro

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Transcript

Mark: Welcome back to Get AI To, from Synthminds Singapore! I'm Mark.

Susan: And I'm Susan, standing in for Chris and Sorah while they enjoy a well-deserved holiday.

Mark: And while they're away, the tech world certainly hasn't taken a break. Today, we're tackling what might be the defining battle of the decade: ChatGPT versus Google.

Susan: It's a huge topic, Mark. Is this really the David and Goliath story everyone thinks it is?

Mark: You know Susan, that's the billion-dollar question. For over twenty years, Google's dominance in search seemed untouchable. But then... ChatGPT arrived and fundamentally changed user expectations and behaviour, almost overnight.

Susan: That is a huge claim, but it's true. OpenAI conditioned millions of people to expect direct, conversational answers from their information systems, not just a list of ten blue links.

Mark: And Google's reaction was swift. They rolled out what they now call AI Overviews,

powered by their Gemini models. Make no mistake, this is arguably the most significant change to Google's search interface in two decades.

Susan: And Gemini is a powerhouse. It's multimodal, meaning it processes text, images, audio, and even code to generate richer, more contextually relevant answers.

Mark: It represents a core strategic shift for Google—they're moving from being a "research tool" to an "answer tool." It's a direct response to keep users from leaving for ChatGPT.

Susan: But... the competitive landscape is so much bigger now. It's not just a two-horse race.

Mark: Not even close. Microsoft integrated OpenAI's tech into Bing with Copilot....Anthropic's Claude added web search with citations....And then you have a disruptor like Perplexity AI.

Susan: Perplexity's positioning as an "answer engine" is a brilliant strategic move!

Mark: Indeed. Perplexity AI is built around delivering direct, accurate answers with clear sources, completely eliminating the need to click through multiple links.

Susan: So, the real question for businesses is, can any of these challengers genuinely threaten Google's market share?

Mark: Well, some forecasts do project a decline for Google, but the bigger story is that the battlefield itself has changed. Younger demographics are using TikTok for product discovery. Amazon is a giant in shopping search. The fight isn't just on the Google homepage anymore; it's everywhere.

Susan: And this shift has a direct and... frankly, a startling impact on businesses that rely on search traffic.

Mark: It's a huge deal. One study shows that when Google's AI Overviews appear, the average click-through rate to websites drops by 34.5%.

Susan: A third of your traffic, gone from the top of the funnel. That's a big change.

Mark: It is. And the data for paid ads is just as concerning. One forecast suggests click-through rates could drop from 21% on a search page without an AI overview, to as low as 10% on a page with one.

Susan: So your ads are less visible, your organic links are less visible... where is the AI getting its answers from, then?

Mark: Now that is the most disruptive finding. A recent analysis revealed that 62% of the links that Google's AI does cite in its overviews come from domains that weren't even ranking in the top 10 organic results before.

Susan: Wait. So the old rules of SEO are being completely rewritten, in real time.

Mark: Yes, completely. This is a whole new game. It's not David versus Goliath anymore. It's a new era with multiple players, new rules, and new niches. ChatGPT was the catalyst, Google is adapting with immense resources, and disruptors like Perplexity are changing the definition of search itself.

Susan: Which means for businesses, the strategy of just "ranking on Google" is no longer enough. You need a broader approach to being the source of truth, wherever your audience is searching for answers.

Mark: Yep. AI is the game changer, and the businesses that adapt their strategy will be the ones who win.

Susan: And that strategic adaptation goes so much deeper than just traditional SEO. It's about how your brand appears in AI overviews, how you navigate the new risks of generative search, and ultimately, how you become the authoritative answer your audience is looking for.

Mark: It's a fundamental shift, and a topic we'll be exploring from different angles in future episodes.

Susan: On that note, that's all the time we have for today. Remember to hit that follow button so you never miss an insight.

Mark: Visit us at synthminds.com.sg, where you'll find a whole library of resources designed to help your business navigate this new landscape.

Susan: To continue the conversation, find us on LinkedIn by clicking the link in the description.

Mark: I'm Mark.

Susan: And I'm Susan. Thanks for joining us on Get AI To.