AI Referrals to Top Websites Surge by 357% in June 2025
AI referrals hit 1.13B in June 2025, marking a 357% growth YoY. Explore what this means for Google Search, media, and website traffic.
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AI Referrals to Top Websites Surge by 357% in June 2025 AI Referrals to Top Websites Surge by 357%: What It Means for Publishers and Search Traffic Explosive growth in AI-driven traffic is shaking up the digital landscape. AI referrals to top websites skyrocketed 357% year-over-year in June 2025, reaching a staggering 1.13 billion visits, according to Similarweb. Although Google Search still dominates with over 191 billion referrals during the same period, the gap between traditional search engines and AI platforms is narrowing. AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude are increasingly becoming vital sources of web traffic, particularly for media, tech, and education-related websites. This blog explores what’s fueling this shift, how it’s impacting publishers, and what it means for the future of search. Image Credits:Gabby Jones / Bloomberg / Getty Images Why AI Referrals to Top Websites Are Exploding AI referrals are rapidly reshaping how users discover content online. Defined as visits originating from AI platforms—such as C…