Google just released its “Year in Search” data, and honestly, it is like looking at a digital diary of our collective chaos. We spent the year oscillating between total awe of new tech and the raw shock of breaking news. If you feel like your brain has been a bit fried lately, these search trends prove you’re definitely not alone.
The AI Takeover and Market Shakes
Artificial intelligence wasn’t just a niche topic; it was the main event. Globally, Gemini dominated search interest as users scrambled to master the new era of generative tools. But the real plot twist was DeepSeek. That Chinese AI model didn’t just trend; it sent Nvidia’s stock into a record-breaking tailspin. It is wild to think how one software release can hit the global economy that hard. Between that and the arrival of the iPhone 17, our digital lives felt like they were moving at a breakneck speed.
However, as we leaned more on these tools to explain the world to us, a darker question started trending: can we even trust the answers we’re getting? This reached a fever pitch after a viral experiment by Ahrefs, where they managed to trick major AI models into citing “facts” about a brand that didn’t even exist. It was a sobering reminder that in the age of AI search, a well-structured lie can often outrank the simple truth.
Headlines that Froze the Internet
Politics and tragedy dominated the news cycle in a way that felt particularly heavy. In the U.S., the assassination of Charlie Kirk in September was the definitive “stop everything” moment, leading the trending searches for weeks. We also saw a massive surge of interest in Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor-elect of New York City, and the election of Pope Leo XIV—the first American to ever lead the Catholic Church.2 And let’s not forget the record-breaking government shutdown. The nation remained captivated by the legislative deadlock surrounding the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” while the “No Kings” protests filled the streets in historic numbers.
Movies, Music, and the Little Monsters
It wasn’t all heavy news, though. Pop culture gave us some much-needed distractions. While the film Anora topped global movie searches, the animated hit KPop Demon Hunters became a genuine phenomenon on Netflix. The viral success of the show’s soundtrack dominated social media feeds for months. And then there were Labubus. Those toothy little monster dolls from Pop Mart were everywhere, even getting their own float in the Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is funny how a collectible toy can suddenly become the most searched thing on the planet.
What about you? What were you searching for when you thought no one was looking? Maybe it was “hot honey” recipes or travel tips for Prague. Tell us in the comments what your year looked like! And make sure to follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), or LinkedIn for more updates.
Sources:
- www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/google-reveals-top-trending-searches-2025
- www.searchenginejournal.com/google-reveals-the-top-searches-of-2025/563738/
- www.foxsportsradio.iheart.com/content/2025-12-26-googles-top-trending-searches-of-2025-revealed/
- www.onfocus.news/google-unveils-2025s-most-searched-terms-highlighting-ai-sports-news-and-pop-culture/
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