What If OpenAI Purchased Chrome?

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This week on the Area of interest Pursuits podcast, Thomas Smith and I tackled all the things from main AI headlines to a few of our favourite facet hustle experiments.

The large story? OpenAI has expressed curiosity in shopping for Chrome if Google is pressured to promote—a speculative transfer, however one with large implications. We explored what that might imply for the way forward for search and whether or not it indicators a deeper push by OpenAI to dominate real-time info entry.

We additionally broke down two research on Google’s AI Overviews. One confirmed a transparent drop in click-through charges for natural outcomes, whereas the opposite discovered that B2B customers are nonetheless actively partaking with citations.

On the non-public facet, Thomas debated the course of his AI-focused YouTube content material, and I shared a Pinterest technique that introduced a powerful Easter visitors spike to one among my websites.

We ended with a enjoyable take a look at a hen hatchery and a multilingual dictionary website—as a result of no week is full with no little area of interest inspiration.

Watch the Full Episode

Might OpenAI Purchase Chrome?

An interesting and doubtlessly landscape-shifting story led this week’s information: OpenAI has expressed curiosity in shopping for Chrome —if Google is pressured to promote it because of the continuing U.S. antitrust trial.

Key Highlights:

  • OpenAI’s Curiosity: Nick Turley, OpenAI’s Head of Product, testified in the course of the antitrust trial that the corporate would contemplate buying Chrome ought to regulators demand its divestiture from Google.
  • Search Is Central to ChatGPT’s Future: OpenAI has made it clear that integrating dependable, reside search knowledge is essential for evolving ChatGPT. Regardless of having a powerful partnership with Microsoft’s Bing, OpenAI seems to be eyeing direct management over a browser and its knowledge streams.
  • Not Only a Joke Anymore: What began as a lighthearted hypothetical—OpenAI shopping for Chrome—has change into a believable strategic transfer.
  • Chrome because the Working System of the Net: With most individuals utilizing Chrome as their most important gateway to the web, buying it will give OpenAI unprecedented entry to real-time search knowledge and person conduct.

Whereas the acquisition might not really occur, this story indicators OpenAI’s large ambitions. They aren’t content material being a chatbot—they need to reshape how we work together with the online.

AI Overviews: Slicing Clicks or Supporting B2B?

Two knowledge research mentioned this week make clear AI Overviews in Google search—how they affect person conduct, and the way that varies between B2C and B2B audiences.

Examine 1: AI Overviews Minimize Click on-By way of Charges

A number of research confirmed a vital drop in CTR when AI Overviews are current in search outcomes.

  • Ahrefs Examine: Place one CTR dropped by 34.5% when an AI Overview was proven.
  • Amceev Examine: CTR throughout the primary web page dropped by 15.5%, and much more—as much as 37%—when mixed with featured snippets.
  • Branded Key phrases Are Much less Affected: Solely 4.79% of branded key phrases triggered AI Overviews, and after they did, they skilled a CTR increase of practically 19%.

This knowledge reinforces the narrative that Google’s AI Overviews scale back natural visitors—particularly for non-branded, informational queries.

Examine 2: B2B Customers Nonetheless Click on on AI Overview Citations

On the flip facet, a TrustRadius report means that B2B patrons behave in another way.

  • 90% Click on By way of on Citations: B2B patrons are utilizing AI Overviews, however they’re additionally clicking by means of cited sources to validate info.
  • Skepticism Stays: Whereas the survey might need phrased questions in a approach that encourages “sensible” solutions, it is logical that folks making enterprise selections would do additional due diligence.
  • Increased Stakes, Extra Engagement: For prime-stakes selections—like software program purchases—customers are way more more likely to double-check sources.

Takeaways for Content material Creators:

  • Give attention to constructing a recognizable model. Branded searches are much less more likely to be undercut by AI Overviews.
  • Goal B2B content material, or content material the place readers are extremely motivated to analysis, as it might be extra resilient to zero-click search developments.
  • Put together for a world the place quantity visitors decreases however customer high quality will increase, notably for websites promoting services or products somewhat than counting on adverts.

Facet Hustles

Thomas’ YouTube Fork within the Highway

Thomas shared a traditional creator dilemma: Ought to he maintain constructing a brand new AI-focused YouTube channel or simply submit AI content material on his already-monetized DIY Life Tech channel?

  • DIY Channel: Search-driven, low subscriber engagement, however monetized and producing constant income.
  • AI Channel: Subscriber-driven, increased engagement potential, however not but monetized.

Information suggests his DIY channel thrives on YouTube and Google search, whereas his AI channel is extra about constructing a loyal neighborhood. In the end, constructing a definite model will be the higher long-term play—regardless of slower short-term returns.

Jared’s Seasonal Content material Technique

Jared mentioned a Pinterest-fueled visitors spike pushed by Easter and Passover content material—particularly, 28 well timed articles that generated 35% of his website’s visitors final week.

  • Seasonal Visitors Technique: Publishing effectively prematurely (months, not weeks) is essential to Pinterest success.
  • Simpler Wins Than Evergreen: Seasonal content material might solely drive visitors briefly every year, however it’s typically simpler to rank for and plan round.
  • Lengthy-Time period Potential: Like information content material, seasonal items can return yearly dividends if deliberate proper.

Jared is now prepping for Mom’s Day, Father’s Day, and the Fourth of July—leaning into Pinterest’s clear choice for seasonal content material.

Bizarre Area of interest Websites of the Week

To shut out the episode, we took a take a look at a few distinctive area of interest websites that stood out this week—one promoting child chicks by mail (CackleHatchery.com) and one other providing language translation instruments by means of a subscription mannequin (WordFinder.com).

Cacklehatchery.com

Thomas launched probably the most lovable visitor in podcast historical past—a child chick. That led naturally into his bizarre area of interest: Cackle Hatchery

  • What It Is: A century-old enterprise transport reside chicks throughout the U.S.
  • Enterprise Stats:
    • 250,000+ month-to-month visits
    • 28,000 month-to-month searches for the model title alone
    • DR59 website with highly effective branded search presence
  • Takeaway: Area of interest e-commerce, backed by sturdy branding, can thrive—even in one thing as old-school as poultry.

Wordfinder.com

Jared’s decide was WordFinder.com, a distinct segment dictionary website translating between tons of of language pairs.

  • B2B Use Case: Notably invaluable for firms translating documentation, not simply informal customers.
  • website positioning Alternative: Regardless of low visitors, the location reveals how even a modest viewers can assist a sustainable subscription enterprise.

Ultimate Ideas

This week’s podcast highlighted some necessary shifts taking place throughout content material creation, monetization, and the way we take into consideration constructing sustainable on-line companies. AI continues to reshape not simply engines like google, however the best way customers have interaction with content material—which means publishers want to remain forward of quickly altering conduct patterns.

Robust branding and B2B-focused content material emerged as clear benefits, particularly in a panorama the place AI Overviews are diminishing natural visitors for common informational queries. On the identical time, area of interest audiences, whether or not they’re purchasing for chicks or subscribing to language instruments, can nonetheless assist strong, worthwhile fashions when served with focus and relevance.

And whereas it might not have been probably the most severe takeaway of the week, we’d simply have discovered our new podcast mascot within the type of a fluffy, three-day-old chick.