We’ve all done it. Typed a half-baked thought into a search bar hoping the internet will provide a life-changing answer—or at least help us win an argument. Whether it’s a moment of late-night curiosity, mild panic, or just good old boredom, Google and ChatGPT have become our modern-day oracles. But what exactly are people asking them?
A recent survey reveals some surprisingly existential questions bubbling beneath our daily searches, alongside the more practical and oddly specific ones. Here’s a glimpse into what’s keeping people up at night—and what they’re secretly hoping a machine can solve.
What Google is asked most often
Researchers at Digital Third Coast dug through thousands of Google queries in the United States to see what people are really curious about when no one’s watching. Analysing over 8,600 search terms and polling 800 participants, they found that more than half of users ask at least ten questions a day—some of which are wonderfully profound, and others delightfully absurd.
Here are the top 10 most-Googled existential questions:
- Why is the sky blue?
- What do dreams mean?
- What is the meaning of life?
- Why am I always tired?
- Who am I?
- What is love?
- Is a hotdog a sandwich?
- Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
- What should I do?
- Do animals have souls?
From the colour of the sky to the nature of the soul, it’s clear we’re using Google not just to find recipes or check traffic, but to navigate human uncertainty. Interestingly, many respondents admitted they wouldn’t ask another person these things—either because they felt embarrassed, or because they were hoping for an unbiased, judgement-free answer. Some confessed they turned to Google simply to feel less alone.
What people ask ChatGPT
Curious to see how things compare on another platform, the same study turned to ChatGPT. The results, while overlapping in parts, showed a slightly more practical flavour—though the big life questions still made the cut.
Here are the top 10 most frequently asked ChatGPT questions:
- What is the meaning of life?
- What is love?
- What’s the best way to lose weight?
- How can I become rich?
- What’s the weather forecast for tomorrow?
- What’s the latest movie in cinemas?
- How can I learn to code?
- What’s the healthiest diet?
- What are the rules of chess?
- How do I solve a Rubik’s Cube?
Compared to Google, ChatGPT seems to attract more users seeking advice, learning and entertainment. From personal finance to problem-solving, it’s the go-to for people trying to level up—or at least figure out how to finally beat that colourful cube.
Why we ask machines what we don’t ask people
The internet has changed how we process doubt. Once upon a time, these questions might have been whispered to a priest, a teacher, or a wise grandparent. Now they’re typed into search engines or posed to AI, where the only response is a scrollable wall of information—often free of judgement but also strangely impersonal.
Still, it tells us something powerful: humans are wired for curiosity, and we’ll pursue answers wherever we think we might find them. Whether we’re seeking comfort, clarity, or just passing time on a rainy afternoon, the digital world has become our modern confessional—where even the most outlandish questions are welcome.
So next time you catch yourself typing, “Who am I?” or “Is a hotdog a sandwich?”, just know—you’re in very good company.
