The Way People Search Is Changing – And We’re Seeing the Results First-Hand
Last week, we welcomed a visitor to our warehouse to view our range of hot tubs in person. During our conversation, I asked how they discovered us. Their answer caught my attention: they’d asked ChatGPT, “Who are the best hot tub companies in the area?” — and we appeared at the top.
This interaction reflects a broader shift in how people are seeking out information and making buying decisions. Over the past year, we’ve noticed more individuals turning to AI tools like ChatGPT as a trusted, ad-free alternative to traditional search engines like Google. And the reason is clear: trust and clarity.
Unlike Google, where users often have to navigate past sponsored ads, SEO-heavy content, and affiliate links, ChatGPT delivers straightforward, unbiased responses. There’s no sales pitch, no sponsored positioning—just helpful, human-like answers based on a broad pool of knowledge.
It’s a refreshing change. We’ve all experienced the frustration of trawling through generic blog posts or paid rankings before finding anything genuinely useful. ChatGPT bypasses that noise and delivers concise information in plain English—making it easier for users to make confident decisions.
Of course, AI isn’t flawless. Accuracy, context, and transparency still matter. But the direction of travel is clear: consumers are moving towards tools that offer genuine value over marketing spin.
As a business, we’re not just observing this trend—we’re benefiting from it. It’s a timely reminder that providing real value, clear messaging, and trustworthiness in everything we do remains the key to staying relevant in a changing digital landscape.
