New data says AI traffic converts 23x better than Google

Egyptian marketers spend thousands of hours and pounds optimizing for Google—but what if the real gold is in AI search?
A new report from SEO giant Ahrefs reveals something game-changing: while AI-generated traffic is still small, it converts 23 times better than traditional organic search traffic. Most of that traffic is currently coming from ChatGPT.
Here’s what Egyptian marketing teams need to know—and why your next digital strategy might need a serious AI upgrade.
AI brings fewer visitors—but far more customers
Ahrefs found that AI-assisted search accounts for just 0.5% of total traffic, but drives 12.1% of all new signups. In real terms, visitors from ChatGPT and similar platforms are dramatically more likely to become paying users than those from Google.
This doesn’t mean SEO is dead—it means AI-assisted users are arriving later in the decision-making funnel, often ready to convert.
These users behave differently from Google traffic
AI visitors don’t linger. According to the report, they spend less time on-site, but they view 50% more pages and have a lower bounce rate.
That’s not a contradiction—it’s focus. AI search users are more targeted, more decisive, and more likely to land directly on product or pricing pages.
For Egyptian marketers, this is an important behavioral shift. Instead of nurturing AI visitors through long content journeys, you may need to optimize product pages, demos, and sign-up funnels to immediately capture interest.
ChatGPT is leading the referral pack
One standout finding: most AI traffic to Ahrefs comes directly from ChatGPT.
This suggests that platforms like ChatGPT aren’t just research tools—they’re trusted recommenders. The AI doesn’t just guide users to links—it endorses them. That trust translates to action.
If you're a SaaS business, agency, or e-commerce brand in Egypt, it’s time to ask: Are we visible to AI assistants? Are our offerings described in a way that AI would recommend us?
Your metrics might need a mindset shift
Historically, marketers have chased reach, impressions, and search volume. But as AI begins to shape search behavior, the old KPIs may not tell the full story.
What matters more now:
Conversion rate per visitor
Value of intent-driven traffic
How well your brand is “understood” by AI assistants
This shift calls for a new content strategy—less keyword stuffing, more clarity, authority, and usability.
What Egyptian marketers should do now
Here are five actionable moves:
Audit your brand’s visibility in AI platforms like ChatGPT or Copilot. Try common prompts your customers might use.
Create content that’s clear and answer-based, not just keyword-focused.
Optimize key landing pages for fast conversions—your “About,” “Pricing,” “Contact,” and “Free trial” pages matter more than ever.
Track AI-generated traffic separately in analytics using custom tags or referral filters.
Prepare your clients and C-levels for a world where fewer clicks may mean more value. Start reporting on conversion quality, not just traffic volume.
A shift worth watching
Ahrefs is working on a broader study with more industry data, but this early signal is hard to ignore. For marketers in Egypt looking to future-proof their strategies, AI search is no longer theoretical—it’s practical, active, and profitable.
The question is no longer if AI will impact search behavior—it’s how fast you can adapt before your competitors do.