Google's Year in Search 2025: AI Dominates as World Events Shape Digital Curiosity

Google's annual Year in Search report reveals that its AI assistant Gemini topped global trending searches in 2025, while political figures, entertainment, and sports captured worldwide attention amid major world events and technological advancements.

The search trends paint a picture of a world increasingly embracing AI technology while staying connected to both global crises and everyday interests, from recipes to travel destinations. The data shows significant regional differences between global and US search patterns, highlighting cultural divides in digital curiosity.

AI Revolution and Current Events Shaping Search Behavior

Artificial intelligence dominated global search interest, with Google's Gemini securing the top position in worldwide searches. AI-generated content showed particular strength in US trends, where AI Barbie, AI action figures, and Ghibli-style AI art captured widespread attention.

"The viral AI Barbie, AI action figures, and Ghibli-style AI art topped this year's trends," Google noted in its report, highlighting the mainstream adoption of generative AI technologies. This remarkable growth in AI-related searches aligns perfectly with the significant SEO trends emerging in 2025 where AI-powered content is reshaping digital marketing strategies.

Major news events shaped search patterns globally, with natural disasters like the LA Fires and Hurricane Melissa drawing significant attention alongside political developments:

• Charlie Kirk's assassination
• Iran-related events
• US Government Shutdown
• New Pope selection
• TikTok ban implementation

In the US, political searches focused on legislation and governance, with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and government shutdown leading news-related queries.

Entertainment and Cultural Phenomena

Entertainment searches revealed breakthrough performances driving actor interest across regions. Mikey Madison topped global actor searches following her acclaimed role in "Anora," which was also the most searched movie worldwide. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal led US actor searches.

The divergence between global and US tastes was apparent in film searches:

Global Top Movies:

1. Anora
2. Superman
3. Minecraft Movie
4. Thunderbolts
5. Sinners

US Top Movies:

1. KPop Demon Hunters
2. Sinners
3. The Minecraft Movie
4. Happy Gilmore 2
5. Thunderbolts

Literature searches showed more consistency across regions, with Colleen Hoover's "Regretting You" and Rebecca Yarros's "Onyx Storm" topping both global and US charts. Interestingly, classic literature saw a resurgence, with George Orwell's "Animal Farm" and "1984" appearing in both lists.

Global vs. Local Interests: Sports, Gaming and Leisure

Sports interests highlighted significant regional differences, with international soccer dominating global searches while US users focused on domestic competitions:

Global Top Sports Events:

1. FIFA Club World Cup
2. Asia Cup
3. ICC Champions Trophy

US Top Sports Events:

1. Ryder Cup
2. 4 Nations Face-Off
3. UFC 313

In gaming, Arc Raiders led global searches, while Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 topped US interest. Music searches in the US were led by emerging artist d4vd, though Taylor Swift dominated song rankings with multiple entries including "Wood" and "The Fate of Ophelia."

Travel searches revealed a growing interest in international destinations, with European cities like Prague and Edinburgh showing strong appeal among US travelers. Domestic destinations like Boston, Seattle, and Tokyo topped US itinerary searches.

Bookstore searches on Google Maps showed fascinating global interest in historic and iconic literary establishments:

Global Top Bookstores:

1. Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal
2. animate Ikebukuro main store, Tokyo, Japan
3. El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina

US Top Bookstores:

1. Powell's City of Books, Portland, Oregon
2. Strand Book Store, New York
3. The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles

Strategic Insights for Different Audiences

The 2025 search trends offer valuable insights that readers can use in several ways:

1. Content creators can leverage trending topics like AI-generated content and popular entertainment properties to develop relevant material that resonates with audiences. Examining Google's comprehensive report on top searches of 2025 provides essential data for strategic content planning.

2. Business owners should note the growing mainstream adoption of AI technologies and consider how these tools might enhance their operations or customer experiences.

3. Travelers can use the trending destinations as inspiration for future trips, particularly to popular cities like Prague, Edinburgh, Boston and Tokyo.

Practical Applications of Search Trends

Organizations can transform these search insights into actionable business strategies by:

• Analyzing seasonal patterns in search behavior to anticipate customer needs
• Identifying emerging interests before they become mainstream trends
• Localizing content strategies based on regional search differences
• Optimizing digital assets with powerful Google tools designed for business growth that help capitalize on current search patterns

Google's Year in Search serves not just as a reflection of what captured our attention, but also as a cultural timestamp that reveals our collective curiosities, concerns, and passions during a transformative year dominated by AI advancement alongside traditional human interests.

The full Year in Search data is available at trends.withgoogle.com/year-in-search/2025, where users can explore detailed breakdowns of all trending categories.