Turkey surpasses the world in ChatGPT usage

The “Digital 2026 Global Overview” report, published by We Are Social and Meltwater, has revealed that Turkey has reached the top spot globally in ChatGPT usage. According to the “ChatGPT-Driven AI Web Traffic” list, prepared based on October 2025 data, Turkey ranked first in the world with a remarkable rate of 94.49 percent, while the global average remained at 80.92 percent.

Cremicro Founder Haydar Özkömürcü stated that these data points indicate a fundamental shift in the information access habits of users in Turkey. According to Özkömürcü, there is a rapid and radical transition from classic search engines to AI-based chatbots.

Özkömürcü used the following expressions in his assessment:

“The report clearly shows that approximately 95 out of every 100 people using artificial intelligence in Turkey rely on ChatGPT’s guidance when searching for a product or service. This is an unprecedented level of domination in the world.

It is no longer enough to just be on the first page of Google; your brand needs to be an authority that is ‘recommended’ and ‘referenced’ by ChatGPT. We call this ‘Generative Engine Optimization’ (GEO) or AIO. In light of this data, I can clearly say that Turkey is the country where the AIO strategy works best and provides the highest return in the world.”

According to information reported by Shiftdelete, Özkömürcü emphasized that it is inevitable for companies to place AI optimization at the center of their 2026 plans. Pointing out that the coming year will be economically challenging, Özkömürcü stated that directing marketing budgets to the right channels is of critical importance.

Özkömürcü concluded his assessment on the subject with the following words:

“2026 will be a challenging year for companies that requires financial caution. In such a contracting economy, where you spend your marketing budget is of vital importance. Your customers are now asking ChatGPT instead of Google, ‘Which is the best accounting software?’ or ‘Who is the most reliable human resources firm in Istanbul?’ If artificial intelligence does not know and recommend your firm, it means you are leaving that customer on the table. For Turkish companies, the formula for emerging from the crisis and growing lies in an optimization process that speaks the language of artificial intelligence, not just algorithms.”

News Source: 12punto