# Pinterest Boasts More Searches Than ChatGPT Despite Weak Earnings
Pinterest CEO Bill Ready spotlighted a surprising stat during the company's disappointing Q4 earnings call: the visual discovery platform handles 80 billion monthly searches, outpacing ChatGPT's 75 billion, with over half being commercial in nature.[1] Despite missing revenue and earnings targets, this claim underscores Pinterest's edge as a high-intent search destination amid rising AI competition.[1][2]
Disappointing Earnings Amid User Growth Surge
Pinterest reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.32 billion, falling short of the $1.33 billion expected, with earnings per share at 67 cents against a projected 69 cents.[1] The company also guided Q1 2026 sales between $951 million and $971 million, below the $980 million consensus forecast, citing pullbacks from larger advertisers in Europe and a new furniture tariff impacting the home category.[1]
User metrics painted a brighter picture, with monthly active users (MAUs) climbing 12% year-over-year to 619 million, surpassing Wall Street's 613 million estimate.[1] This growth highlights Pinterest's sticky appeal for inspiration-driven searches, even as monetization lags—users often plan and dream rather than immediately purchase, a challenge intensified by AI platforms signaling clearer buy intent.[1]
Pinterest's Search Volume Tops ChatGPT – The Numbers Explained
Bill Ready positioned Pinterest as "one of the largest search destinations in the world," citing third-party data showing 80 billion monthly searches and 1.7 billion clicks, compared to ChatGPT's 75 billion searches.[1] Notably, more than half of Pinterest queries are commercial, dwarfing ChatGPT's roughly 2% commercial rate, making it a prime ad platform for shopping intent.[1]
Supporting data aligns: Pinterest ranks #44 globally with slightly more monthly users than ChatGPT at #45, per traffic analyses.[2] While ChatGPT boasts 700 million weekly active users and over 1 billion daily queries in some reports, traditional platforms like Bing drive 2-3x more search traffic.[2][4] Pinterest's edge lies in its visual, planning-focused searches, with benchmarks showing strong performance in niches like food, DIY, and fashion (1-2% save rates).[5]
AI Search Rise vs. Pinterest's Commercial Strength
As AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews dominate with zero-click answers—now nearly 60% of Google searches—Pinterest differentiates through actionable commercial intent.[3] Gen Z favors AI for direct answers (82%), yet Pinterest surges in shopping inspiration, with low CPCs ($0.50–$1.50) and high average order values due to its 21-30 day purchase window.[5][6]
Challenges persist: Pinterest has long struggled to convert high usage into ad revenue, and AI shifts could divert budgets to platforms with explicit product queries.[1] Still, its predictive trends via Pinterest Predicts and outperforming formats like Idea Pins (0.5-1% engagement) bolster its position.[5][8]
Strategic Implications for Advertisers in 2026
For marketers, Pinterest offers undervalued high-intent traffic amid AI SEO shifts, where 24% are updating strategies for tools like ChatGPT.[7] Business sites snag 50% of ChatGPT citations, but Pinterest's native storytelling and earned engagement (10-30%) drive conversions better than impulse platforms.[4][5] As AI traffic grows 527% yearly, blending visual search with AI could be key.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Pinterest's key Q4 2025 earnings misses?
Pinterest reported $1.32 billion in revenue (vs. $1.33 billion expected) and 67 cents EPS (vs. 69 cents), with Q1 2026 guidance of $951-971 million below $980 million forecasts, due to advertiser pullbacks and tariffs.[1]
How does Pinterest's search volume compare to ChatGPT?
Pinterest claims 80 billion monthly searches and 1.7 billion clicks, exceeding ChatGPT's 75 billion, with over 50% commercial vs. ChatGPT's ~2%.[1][2]
Why did Pinterest beat user growth expectations?
Monthly active users rose 12% year-over-year to 619 million, topping the 613 million forecast, driven by its role in planning and inspiration.[1]
Is Pinterest more commercial than AI search tools?
Yes, over half of Pinterest searches are commercial, contrasting ChatGPT's low commercial rate, positioning it strongly for ads despite AI competition.[1]
What are Pinterest's ad performance benchmarks?
Click-through rates average 0.10-0.20%, with CPCs at $0.50-1.50; Idea Pins hit 0.5-1% engagement, excelling in food, DIY, and fashion.[5]
How is AI impacting search trends in 2026?
AI search traffic surged 527%, with zero-click rates at 60%; tools like ChatGPT handle billions of queries, but Pinterest leads in shopping intent.[3][4]
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 11:40:35 PM
**Pinterest CEO Bill Ready highlighted in Q4 earnings that the platform processes 80 billion monthly searches—surpassing ChatGPT's 75 billion—while generating 1.7 billion clicks, with over 50% commercial intent versus ChatGPT's ~2%.[1]** This positions Pinterest as a top visual search engine amid AI disruption, where zero-click AI responses like ChatGPT's now dominate 60% of queries, yet Pinterest's planning-focused users yield superior benchmarks like 0.5–1% engagement on Idea Pins and $0.50–$1.50 CPCs due to high purchase intent.[1][5] Technically, it implies Pinterest could capture GEO opportunities in AI citations by leveraging commercial queries
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 11:50:37 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Pinterest CEO Bill Ready claimed Pinterest handles 80 billion monthly searches—outpacing ChatGPT's 75 billion— with over 50% commercial intent versus ChatGPT's roughly 2%, positioning it as a top global search destination despite Q4 revenue of $1.32 billion missing estimates by $10 million and Q1 guidance of $951-971 million falling short of $980 million expectations.[1]** Industry observers note Pinterest's challenge in monetizing its 619 million monthly active users (up 12% YoY, beating forecasts of 613 million), as users often plan rather than buy, potentially worsening amid AI shifts where advertisers favor clearer purchase signals like chatbot queries.[1] Analysts highlight supporting dat
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 12:00:38 AM
No regulatory or government response has emerged to Pinterest's claim of surpassing ChatGPT in search volume (80 billion monthly searches vs. 75 billion) amid its weak Q4 earnings of $1.32 billion revenue, missing expectations by $10 million.[1] The company's shortfall was attributed to European ad pullbacks and a new October furniture tariff impacting home category sales, with no cited intervention from antitrust bodies or trade authorities on its AI search comparisons.[1] Analysts note potential AI-era ad shifts but report zero official probes or statements from regulators as of this update.[1]
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 12:10:39 AM
**Pinterest CEO Bill Ready highlighted a key shift in the competitive search landscape, claiming the platform processes 80 billion monthly searches—surpassing ChatGPT's 75 billion—while generating 1.7 billion clicks, over half of which are commercial in nature compared to ChatGPT's roughly 2%.[2][4]** This assertion comes amid Pinterest's Q4 revenue miss of $1.32 billion (versus $1.33 billion expected) and a soft Q1 2026 forecast of $951-971 million, underscoring how visual, intent-driven platforms challenge AI chatbots like ChatGPT (now testing ads amid slowing growth) and emerging players such as Perplexity (500 million monthly queries) i
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 12:20:41 AM
**Pinterest CEO Bill Ready claimed the platform handles 80 billion monthly searches compared to ChatGPT's 75 billion, positioning Pinterest as a high-intent discovery engine despite missing fourth-quarter earnings targets[1][2].** The technical distinction centers on commercial intent: Ready argued that over 50% of Pinterest's searches carry shopping intent versus approximately 2% for ChatGPT, suggesting Pinterest's search volume translates more directly to advertiser value[1]. However, the company's ability to convert this search advantage into revenue remains uncertain—Pinterest reported $1.32 billion in fourth-quarter revenue versus $1.33 billion expected and forecast first-quarter sales between $951-971 million, below
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 12:30:39 AM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Public Skepticism Mounts Over Pinterest's ChatGPT Search Claim Amid Earnings Miss**
Pinterest shares tumbled in after-hours trading following the Q4 revenue miss of $1.32 billion (vs. $1.33 billion expected) and a soft Q1 forecast of $951-971 million (below $980 million), with online reactions mocking CEO Bill Ready's assertion of **80 billion monthly searches** topping ChatGPT's **75 billion**—calling it a "desperate spin" on X and Reddit forums[1][2]. Consumers highlighted the irony, noting Pinterest's users "plan and dream, not shop and buy," amplifying concerns that high search volume (with over 50% commercia
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 12:40:39 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Pinterest Edges ChatGPT in Search Volume Amid Shifting AI Landscape**
Pinterest CEO Bill Ready highlighted a key competitive shift, claiming third-party data shows the platform processes **80 billion monthly searches**—surpassing ChatGPT's **75 billion**—while generating **1.7 billion monthly clicks**, with over **50%** carrying commercial intent versus ChatGPT's estimated **2%**[1][2]. This positions Pinterest as a high-intent visual discovery engine in an intensifying AI search race, where tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews now dominate zero-click queries (nearly **60%** of Google searches), challenging traditional platforms to prove shopper conversion over ra
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 12:50:41 AM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE:** No regulatory or government response has emerged to Pinterest CEO Bill Ready's claim of 80 billion monthly searches surpassing ChatGPT's 75 billion, despite the company's Q4 revenue miss of $1.32 billion against $1.33 billion expected[1][2]. U.S. antitrust authorities, including the FTC, have ramped up scrutiny on AI search giants like OpenAI amid broader market dominance probes, but Pinterest's visual search pitch has drawn no specific probes or statements as of this update[3]. Industry observers note the claim's reliance on third-party data could invite future EU DMA reviews if it escalates ad competition tensions[4].
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 1:00:40 AM
Pinterest CEO Bill Ready highlighted a key shift in the competitive search landscape, claiming third-party data shows the platform processes **80 billion monthly searches**—surpassing ChatGPT's **75 billion**—while generating **1.7 billion monthly clicks** and boasting over **50% commercial intent** compared to ChatGPT's estimated **2%**[1][2]. This positioning recasts Pinterest as a high-intent visual discovery engine amid intensifying rivalry from AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, where traditional platforms like Bing still drive 2-3x more traffic but face fragmented user journeys across TikTok, YouTube, and social search[3][6]. Despite Q4 revenue of **$1.32 billion*
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 1:10:38 AM
**Pinterest CEO Bill Ready claimed during the Q4 earnings call that the platform processes 80 billion monthly searches—exceeding ChatGPT's 75 billion—while generating 1.7 billion clicks, with over half being commercial in nature compared to ChatGPT's roughly 2%.[1][2]** Despite missing revenue expectations at $1.32 billion (versus $1.33 billion forecast) and EPS of 67 cents (versus 69 cents), plus a weak Q1 2026 sales outlook of $951-971 million (below $980 million expected), shares slid in after-hours trading as Ready positioned Pinterest as a high-intent visual search rival to AI chatbots.[1][2] This bold compariso
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 1:20:39 AM
Pinterest CEO Bill Ready claimed the platform handles **80 billion monthly searches compared to ChatGPT's 75 billion**, positioning Pinterest as a major search destination despite the company missing fourth-quarter earnings expectations with $1.32 billion in revenue versus $1.33 billion projected.[1][2] Ready emphasized that over half of Pinterest's searches carry **commercial intent versus approximately 2% for ChatGPT**, arguing this makes the platform more valuable to advertisers even as industry analysts note the comparison raises questions about methodology and definitions.[1][2] However, experts caution that Pinterest faces a fundamental challenge: translating high platform usage into advertising revenue, particularly as generative AI assistants increasingly capture shopping-related queries
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 1:30:40 AM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: No Regulatory Response to Pinterest's ChatGPT Search Claim**
Despite Pinterest CEO Bill Ready's bold assertion of 80 billion monthly searches surpassing ChatGPT's 75 billion amid Q4 revenue of $1.32 billion (missing $1.33 billion expected), no government or regulatory bodies have issued statements, probes, or actions as of February 12, 2026[1][2]. Sources confirm zero mentions of antitrust scrutiny, FTC inquiries, or EU competition reviews targeting the comparison or Pinterest's visual search dominance over AI rivals[1][2][5]. Third-party data underpinning Ready's claim—"one of the largest search destinations in the world"—remains unchallenged by official
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 1:40:39 AM
**Pinterest CEO Bill Ready claimed during Q4 earnings that the platform processes 80 billion monthly searches—exceeding ChatGPT's 75 billion—while generating 1.7 billion clicks, with over 50% commercial intent versus ChatGPT's estimated 2%[1][2].** Technically, this positions Pinterest as a high-intent visual search engine leveraging personalized recommendations and shoppable pins to shorten the path from inspiration to purchase, potentially capturing ad spend shifting from AI chatbots amid fragmented multi-platform discovery[1][2][5]. Despite missing revenue ($1.32B vs. $1.33B expected) and Q1 guidance ($951M-$971M vs. $980M), the claim underscores Pinteres
🔄 Updated: 2/13/2026, 1:50:39 AM
**Pinterest shares slid in after-hours trading** following the company's disappointing Q4 earnings report on February 12, 2026, which missed revenue expectations at $1.32 billion versus $1.33 billion projected and EPS of 67 cents against 69 cents anticipated, with Q1 2026 guidance of $951-$971 million falling short of the $980 million forecast[1][2]. Despite CEO Bill Ready's claim of 80 billion monthly searches—exceeding ChatGPT's 75 billion and driving 1.7 billion clicks, over half commercial in nature—the weak results overshadowed the positive spin, triggering the sell-off[1][2]. No intraday stock price figures were immediately available, but the reactio