Key Highlights
- Pinterest says it handles more monthly searches than ChatGPT, citing third-party data
- CEO Bill Ready highlights Pinterest’s strength in commercial and shopping-related searches
- The claim comes amid missed Q4 earnings and a weak Q1 forecast
- User growth remains strong, but monetization pressure is rising in the AI era
Pinterest says it sees more searches than ChatGPT, even as the company reports low earnings. The claim came during its fourth-quarter earnings call, where executives tried to reposition Pinterest as a serious search platform. For the fast-changing AI search market, this comparison matters.
As per TechCrunch, Bill Ready, CEO of Pinterest, said the platform records about 80 billion searches per month. By comparison, ChatGPT reportedly sees around 75 billion monthly searches. Pinterest also generates 1.7 billion clicks each month, according to third-party data cited by the company.
Why is Pinterest comparing itself to ChatGPT now?
The comparison comes at a sensitive moment. Pinterest missed Wall Street expectations on both revenue and earnings per share in Q4. Revenue reached $1.32 billion, slightly below forecasts. Earnings also fell short. As a result, shares dropped 20% in after-hours trading.
At the same time, AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming search alternatives. Therefore, Pinterest wants investors and advertisers to see it as more than a social platform. It wants recognition as a high-intent search engine, especially for shopping and planning.
Ready emphasized that over half of Pinterest searches are commercial in nature. He contrasted this with ChatGPT, where he estimated only about 2% of searches are commercial.
Does search volume equal business value?
Search volume alone does not guarantee revenue. Pinterest has long struggled to convert planning behavior into purchases. Users often browse to dream, not to buy. However, the company argues this behavior still has value.
Unlike text-based AI prompts, Pinterest relies on visual search, discovery, and personalization. According to Ready, users can discover products without typing a single prompt. This, he said, creates a smoother commercial journey.
Pinterest has also partnered with Amazon to simplify checkout. That integration aims to reduce friction once users decide to buy.
What about users and growth?
Despite weak earnings, Pinterest’s audience is growing faster than expected. Monthly active users rose 12% year-over-year to 619 million. Wall Street had projected fewer users.
Still, challenges remain. The company blamed its revenue miss on advertisers cutting spend, especially in Europe. New furniture tariffs also hurt the home category. Pinterest warned these pressures could worsen in early 2026.
What this means
For Pinterest watchers, the message is clear. The company wants to compete in the search conversation, not just social media. By framing itself against ChatGPT, it signals where the battle for discovery, commerce, and intent is heading.
In the conclusion, Pinterest’s search scale may rival AI tools today. However, turning those searches into consistent revenue remains the real test for the platform.
