From Gemini to worldwide unrest, these are the trends that shaped Google Search this year.
What you should know
– AI took center stage in Google’s Year in Search 2025, with Gemini leading global searches and quirky U.S. trends such as “AI Barbie” and “AI Ghostface” demonstrating the mainstream acceptance of generative tools.
– Coverage of crises intensified, with Iran, LA wildfires, the U.S. shutdown, Hurricane Melissa, and the Kamchatka earthquake prompting a demand for continuous updates.
– Sports enthusiasts altered the rankings, elevating the FIFA Club World Cup globally and lifting the Seattle Mariners and OKC Thunder in the U.S.
Google’s Year in Search typically reflects what captivated our interest, but the 2025 list is particularly striking. It serves as a pressure gauge for everything from political tensions to emerging AI trends, alongside a relentless cycle of pop culture. Observing both the global and U.S. lists, certain trends emerge clearly: AI has integrated into daily life, politics dominated headlines, and entertainment continually surprised us in unforeseen ways.
Gemini topped the global leaderboard, illustrating how ingrained AI has become in everyday dialogue. DeepSeek, another significant AI model, also found its way into the global top 10.
In the U.S., curiosity manifested differently. Searches like “AI action figure,” “AI Barbie,” and “AI Ghostface” surged as users engaged with generative tools in more whimsical and unconventional manners.
One headline overshadowed all others
Yet, 2025 was not solely focused on new technology. There were also moments that astonished people globally. Searches for Charlie Kirk spiked worldwide, driven by more than just political motives. His assassination and death became the most-searched global news event and the primary news topic in the U.S., resulting in days of unwavering coverage and speculation.
Events such as the situation in Iran, the LA wildfires, the U.S. government shutdown, and the election of Pope Leo XIV kept people searching for updates. Natural disasters like Hurricane Melissa and the Kamchatka earthquake also resulted in an uptick in crisis-related searches.
Entertainment captured significant attention as well. Globally, Anora and Superman were the most-searched films, while in the U.S., KPop Demon Hunters led the charts.
Pop culture preferences are polarized
In television, Monster: The Ed Gein Story emerged as the most popular show worldwide, whereas The Hunting Wives took the lead in the U.S. If it appeared that Taylor Swift was putting out something new every month, you’d be correct. She dominated global lyric searches and comprised half of the U.S. top 10 songs list.
Sports fans were also engaged. The FIFA Club World Cup stood as the most-searched sporting event worldwide. In the U.S., fans propelled the Seattle Mariners and Oklahoma City Thunder to the top rankings. Terence Crawford, Shedeur Sanders, and Rory McIlroy were among the most-searched athletes globally, reflecting a shift in sports interests this year.
The internet’s affinity for rabbit holes manifested in some unconventional trends as well. There were surges in “Holy airball” memes and recipe searches for hot honey cottage cheese beef bowls and dumpling bakes. Travel searches mirrored broader changes: globally, Kyoto Station and Kew Gardens were popular on Google Maps, while Americans planned trips to Boston, Seattle, and Tokyo.
If anything, 2025 revealed that our searches mirror what we care about, what troubles us, and what we wish to explore next.
