TL;DR: Key Insights from Google's 'Year in Search 2025' for Entrepreneurs
Google's 2025 search trends reveal pivotal opportunities for business growth, with AI, pop culture, and niche markets dominating global curiosity. Entrepreneurs can leverage these insights to refine 2026 strategies.
• AI-driven searches like Google's Gemini highlight growing consumer dependency on tools for creativity and business modeling.
• Pop culture phenomena, such as "KPop Demon Hunters," underline the importance of storytelling for emotional connections.
• Niche markets like Labubu showcase the demand for personalized and exclusive branding.
Align your business with these trends now to stay ahead. Dive deeper into actionable strategies for growth in 2026 on Search Engine Journal.
Check out other fresh news that you might like:
Startup News 2026: Tips, Benefits, and Mistakes in Google Ads Change History Update
Startup News 2026: Steps, Lessons, and Mistakes in Crafting Scalable Code for Digital Growth
Google has finally revealed its ‘Year in Search 2025,’ and let me tell you, the results are not only intriguing but also deeply informative for entrepreneurs and startup founders. As a founder myself, I’m always drawn to data that uncovers behaviors, trends, and choices that define global curiosity. This report is no different , packed with valuable insights, shocking statistics, and revealing patterns. Understanding what the world searched for in 2025 can provide a competitive edge when navigating entrepreneurial decisions in 2026.
The impact of AI, political shifts, lifestyle changes, and cultural phenomena drove much of the search activity last year. From Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, topping searches globally, to pop culture moments like “KPop Demon Hunters,” and even niche tools like DeepSeek, this report demonstrates the pulse of global thought. And if you’re a business owner or freelancer hoping to decode market behavior, buckle up , I’ve dissected the trends for you below!
What Were the Top Searches of 2025?
Let’s jump right into the highlights from Google’s report. The data is comprehensive, covering everything from sports to lifestyle to AI innovations. Here’s how the searches mapped out globally and within the U.S.
Global Top-10 Trending Searches
- Gemini: Google’s flagship AI tool, capturing mass interest worldwide.
- India vs. England Cricket Series
- Charlie Kirk
- Club World Cup
- India vs. Australia Cricket Tournament
- DeepSeek (AI-powered search engine)
- Asia Cup (Cricket)
- Iran (Political and global context)
- iPhone 17
- Political narratives surrounding Pakistan and India
Notice the heavy emphasis on sports, politics, and technology? These are indicators of cross-industry interest and evolving audience obsession with competitiveness and breakthroughs.
USA-Specific Top-10 Searches
- Charlie Kirk: News surrounding his assassination drew unprecedented search spikes.
- KPop Demon Hunters
- Labubu (quirky, collectible toy)
- iPhone 17
- One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Landmark legislation)
- Zohran Mamdani: New York City’s Mayor-elect
- DeepSeek
- Government Shutdown and its ramifications
- FIFA Club World Cup
- Tariffs impacting trade regulations
What Trends Defined Modern Search Behavior?
As we decode the search patterns, certain themes emerge that are critical for understanding market shifts and customer psychology. Let’s dig deeper into these.
Why Did AI Dominate the Search Landscape?
Gemini’s top ranking globally wasn’t an accident. AI now shapes consumer decision-making at unprecedented levels , not just as a tech fascination, but as a tool integrated into daily life. People are curious to know what AI can do for creativity, business modeling, coding, and even entertainment formats.
According to this data, AI tools became synonymous with empowerment in 2025, igniting profound searches such as “Can AI build me a business plan?” and “How can AI design artwork for my brand?” Entrepreneurs need to pay attention here: if AI is driving search behavior, then your offerings must organically tie into AI-powered products or experiences.
Pop Culture’s Influence: What Entrepreneurs Should Know
Entertainment was another leading category, highlighting what drives mass consumerism. Searches for movies like “KPop Demon Hunters,” songs by Taylor Swift, or breakout performances by actors like Pedro Pascal show a strong intersection between consumer engagement and cultural consumption.
This is exactly why building relatable marketing narratives matters. Whether or not your target lies within entertainment, taking lessons from pop culture’s storytelling can drive deeper emotional connections with your audience.
Niche Markets Are Breaking Through
Do quirky trends like Labubu surprise you? They shouldn’t. These specific, niche searches signal a shift towards personalized branding, unique offerings, and one-of-a-kind user experiences. If your business thrives on exclusivity, then ride these waves tactically by embedding similar narratives into your product roadmaps.
How Can Entrepreneurs Leverage Search Insights?
It’s not enough to notice trends; understanding them deeply matters. Here’s how you can use Google’s 2025 search data to refine your strategy and grow your business in 2026.
- Capitalize on AI searches: If your business involves AI, lean aggressively into educational marketing and “how-to” content that satisfies curiosity about AI’s practical application.
- Create culture-centric campaigns: Leverage consumer obsession with entertainment, using storytelling formats that resonate within pop culture niches.
- Analyze seasonal spikes: Determine search moments (e.g., government shutdown) as opportunities to tailor messaging.
- Use search insights for personalization: Address niche interests like quirky collectibles (Labubu), ensuring your offering feels curated and exclusive.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring AI shifts: If your strategy doesn’t incorporate AI yet, you’re leaving money on the table.
- Oversimplifying trends: The deeper you analyze behaviors, the better positioned you’ll be to anticipate future spikes.
- Skipping cultural relevance: Innovate branding to reflect social and media-driven consumption.
Final Thoughts
2025 has set the tone for evolving curiosity, and as an entrepreneur, your focus should shift from participating passively to creating actively. From AI innovation to culture-driven marketing, the time to align your business trajectory is now.
Want to learn more? Dive into additional resources on Search Engine Journal and start positioning yourself and your business for success.
FAQ on Google's 2025 Year in Search
1. What was the most searched term globally in 2025?
The most searched term globally was "Gemini," Google’s flagship AI tool that captured global attention and showcased the impact of AI integration in daily life. Learn more about Gemini's popularity
2. What dominated the top searches in the United States?
In the U.S., the top search was "Charlie Kirk," driven by news surrounding his assassination. Other leading searches included "KPop Demon Hunters" and "iPhone 17." See the full U.S. trends breakdown
3. Why did AI-related searches dominate in 2025?
AI tools like Gemini and queries about AI’s capabilities (e.g., "Can AI build me a business plan?") dominated searches due to the integration of AI in business, creativity, and daily life. Learn more about AI-driven search trends
4. What was the impact of pop culture on 2025 search trends?
Pop culture had a significant influence, with movies like "KPop Demon Hunters," songs by Taylor Swift, and actors like Pedro Pascal capturing consumer attention and driving search spikes. Read about pop culture's influence
5. What role did niche categories play in search trends?
Niche interests like collectible toys (e.g., Labubu) and unique experiences gained traction, reflecting a growing preference for personalized and exclusive products. Explore how niche markets broke through
6. How did sports contribute to global search patterns?
Sports captivated global audiences, with cricket dominating searches (e.g., India vs. England) and international events like the FIFA Club World Cup driving interest. Learn about sports trends
7. What were the key political searches in 2025?
Searches focused heavily on political events, including "Iran" in a global context and "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" in the U.S., reflecting interest in geopolitical shifts and landmark legislation. Discover more about political searches
8. How can entrepreneurs use AI search trends to their advantage?
AI-related searches indicate an opportunity for entrepreneurs to integrate AI-powered tools into their offerings and create educational content that demystifies AI’s applications. Get insights on leveraging AI trends
9. What consumer behavior insights can be drawn from 2025 search trends?
Consumers prioritized technology (AI tools), cultural consumption (pop culture figures and movies), and event-driven searches (natural disasters, legislation), showcasing their curiosity and adaptability. Dive deeper into consumer insights
10. How have travel searches evolved based on the 2025 data?
Travel searches reflected a mix of popular and culturally significant destinations, with cities like Prague and Edinburgh topping itineraries and global bookstores gaining attention. See top travel trends
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the point of view of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.