December 22, 2025 Artificial intelligence dominated global search behaviour in 2025, with Google’s own AI assistant, Gemini, emerging as the most searched term worldwide, according to the company’s annual Year in Search report. The data is a reflection of the fact that AI is no longer just something people are curious about. It is changing how users ask questions, seek help and navigate the internet.
Gemini topping the global list reflects how quickly AI tools have moved from novelty to utility. Searches for Gemini were not limited to definitions or launch news. Instead, users were looking for ways to apply the technology in daily work, creativity and problem-solving. Another AI platform, China-based DeepSeek, also ranked among the year’s top global searches, underscoring growing global interest in competing AI systems.
Google’s data suggests that the rise of AI is also transforming search behaviour itself. Queries phrased as full questions surged in 2025, with “Tell me about…” searches rising by 70 per cent year over year, while “How do I…” queries hit a record high, up 25 per cent. Rather than typing fragmented keywords, users increasingly interact with search as if it were a conversational assistant.
Outside AI, the year’s top searches reveal a mix of culture, politics and entertainment. International cricket dominated sports searches, with India’s series against England and Australia drawing global attention.
In the United States, news-driven searches shaped the rankings. Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk saw a sharp rise in queries after his assassination. Entertainment figures, including KPop Demon Hunters, Kendrick Lamar also drove a large volume of queries, just as religious queries surrounded Pope Leo XIV.
Podcasts also maintained their momentum, led by shows such as The Charlie Kirk Show and New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce. In publishing, Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You and Rebecca Yarros’s Onyx Storm dominated book-related searches, reflecting the ongoing influence of social platforms in shaping reading habits.
Google Maps data added another layer to the picture. People searched not just for generic directions but for destination bookstores such as Livraria Lello in Portugal and Shakespeare and Company in Paris, as well as botanical gardens and major Japanese transit hubs. Food trends also rounded out the picture, as recipes for hot honey, Marry Me Chicken, chimichurri, chia pudding and white chicken chili all saw breakout interest, illustrating how viral dishes spread from short-form video into everyday kitchens.
Google’s Year in Search 2025 paints a picture of a web steadily moving away from terse keyword strings toward natural language questions aimed at AI-enhanced systems. As AI tools become embedded in everyday workflows, users now expect search to act less like an index and more like a capable assistant, able to explain, contextualize and connect.
