GoKawiilMeta ad revenue growth outpaces Google Search in Q3
Meta's advertising revenue rose 26% year-over-year to $63.1 billion in the third quarter, compared with 12% growth to $63.4 billion for Google's Search division. The 14-point gap is the widest in Meta's favor since 2021, as Meta scales AI-driven ad targeting on Facebook and Instagram while Google faces competition from chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude and its own Muse.
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The diverging growth rates suggest AI tools are reshaping how consumers discover information and products, potentially eroding Google's long-standing search advertising dominance. Analyst Nate Elliott of Emarketer warns that if chatbots prove better at helping users find what they want, it could mark the first major shift in search habits in a generation, posing a serious risk to Google's ad business. Meta, by contrast, appears positioned to benefit as AI-driven engagement boosts time spent on its apps and ad targeting precision.
- Meta's Q3 ad revenue grew 26% to $63.1 billion versus 12% growth to $63.4 billion for Google Search.
- The growth gap between the two is the widest in Meta's favor since 2021.
- Analysts warn AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude and Muse could permanently alter consumer search behavior, threatening Google's ad revenue.
Source: cnbc.com — Ari Levy, 2026-11-01
Published there as: “Why AI is boosting Meta's ad business while hurting Google search”
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