OpenAI’s search engine: Implications beyond GOOG stock

12 maj

OpenAI has denied rumors claiming it's set to reveal an AI-powered search engine for its flagship chatbot, ChatGPT, on Monday.

Although there is speculation that OpenAI is being a bit of a wise guy, and the product it will demo is not a search engine, but what they might dub as the next generation of search engines.

It will be interesting to see if this product, whenever it is first demonstrated, is anything Google will have to worry about. According to Bloomberg, OpenAI’s search tool will be partly powered by Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Make of that what you will.

Either way, this could likely ratchet up competition with Google and the market might have already begun to price in this risk to GOOG stock. But what other stocks could face a negative or positive risk from this development?

Maybe we can ask ChatGPT:

“Online advertising companies: Companies that heavily rely on Google's advertising platform for revenue could face challenges if advertisers shift their budgets to the new search engine. This includes companies like The Trade Desk (TTD), Magnite Inc. (MGNI), and Criteo S.A. (CRTO).

E-commerce platforms: Google's search engine is a major source of traffic for many e-commerce platforms. If a rival search engine gains popularity, it could impact the flow of traffic and potentially affect revenue for companies like Amazon (AMZN), eBay Inc. (EBAY), and Shopify Inc. (SHOP).

Payment processing companies: Google's search engine facilitates e-commerce transactions, which benefits payment processing companies like PayPal Holdings Inc. (PYPL) and Square Inc. (SQ). If a rival search engine affects e-commerce traffic patterns, it could indirectly impact payment processing companies.

Digital marketing agencies: Companies that specialize in search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) services may see a shift in demand if advertisers allocate resources away from Google towards the new search engine. Examples include companies like WPP plc (WPP) and Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC).

Data analytics companies: Google's search engine generates vast amounts of data, which is valuable for analytics purposes. If a new search engine captures market share, it could impact data analytics companies that rely on Google's data for insights. Companies like Nielsen Holdings plc (NLSN) and The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (DNB) could be affected.

Online review platforms: Google's search engine plays a significant role in driving traffic to online review platforms like Yelp Inc. (YELP) and TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP). A new search engine could potentially change the dynamics of online reviews and impact these platforms' user base and revenue streams.”