Google has released its “Year in Search 2025” report, offering a comprehensive look at the queries that dominated online attention throughout the year. The report, which analyzes search data to identify trending searches, reveals a diverse range of interests, from artificial intelligence and global news events to culinary fads and entertainment releases. Understanding these trends provides valuable insight into the public’s evolving curiosity and concerns.
The annual report doesn’t simply list the most popular searches – terms like “weather” consistently rank high – but rather highlights searches that experienced the most significant increase in traffic between 2024 and 2025. This methodology focuses on emerging interests rather than established search habits, offering a unique perspective on the year’s defining moments.
The Rise of AI and Global News in Trending Searches
Artificial intelligence was a major theme in 2025’s search data. Google’s own AI chatbot, “Gemini,” topped the list of trending searches overall, indicating widespread public interest in the technology. This surge in searches likely correlates with the increased accessibility and capabilities of AI tools throughout the year.
Additionally, DeepSeek, another AI chatbot, secured the seventh position in the overall trending searches, further demonstrating the growing fascination with conversational AI. The report suggests that users are not only exploring established AI platforms but also actively seeking out new and emerging options.
Beyond technology, global news events heavily influenced search patterns. “Charlie Kirk” was the top trending news topic, with the specific query “Charlie Kirk assassination” leading the charge. This indicates a significant level of public attention, potentially driven by controversy or misinformation surrounding the political commentator.
Following Charlie Kirk, searches related to “Iran” and a potential “US Government Shutdown” ranked as the second and third most popular news queries, respectively. These trends reflect ongoing geopolitical tensions and domestic political uncertainties that captured public attention throughout the year.
Beyond Headlines: Food, Entertainment, and Sports
The “Year in Search” also revealed notable trends in lifestyle categories. In the realm of recipes, “hot honey” emerged as the most sought-after item, suggesting a growing culinary trend towards sweet and spicy flavors. “Marry Me Chicken” and “chimichurri” followed closely behind, rounding out the top three food-related searches.
The entertainment sector saw strong interest in several releases. The independent film “Anora” led the movie trending searches, followed by searches for “Superman” and “Minecraft Movie.” Interestingly, Mikey Madison, the star of “Anora,” was the most searched actor, potentially driven by critical acclaim and increased visibility for the film.
Meanwhile, Lewis Pullman, featured in the upcoming Marvel film “Thunderbolts,” and Isabela Merced, who appeared in “Superman,” also garnered significant search interest. This highlights the impact of both independent cinema and large-scale blockbuster productions on public curiosity.
Sports fans turned to Google for updates on major international competitions. The “FIFA Club World Cup” and “Asia Cup” were the top two trending sports searches, while the “ICC Champions Trophy” secured the third spot. In terms of teams, Paris Saint-Germain F.C. led the pack, followed by S.L. Benfica and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Other Notable Trends
The report also highlighted growing interest in podcasts and books. “The Charlie Kirk Show” topped the podcast trending searches, aligning with the high volume of news searches related to the host. Jason and Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” and “This Is Gavin Newsom” also saw significant increases in search traffic.
In the book category, Colleen Hoover’s “Regretting You” was the most searched title, demonstrating the author’s continued popularity. Rebecca Yarros’ “Onyx Storm” and Navessa Allen’s “Lights Out” completed the top three, indicating a diverse range of reading preferences among users.
These findings offer a glimpse into the collective consciousness of internet users in 2025, revealing what topics resonated most strongly throughout the year. The data provides valuable insights for marketers, content creators, and anyone seeking to understand the evolving interests of the online population.
Looking ahead, Google is expected to continue refining its “Year in Search” methodology to provide even more nuanced and insightful data. The company will likely focus on identifying emerging trends earlier in the year and exploring the connections between different search categories. Further analysis of this data will be crucial for understanding the long-term impact of these trending searches on culture, commerce, and communication.
The full “Year in Search 2025” report is available for review on the Google website: https://yearinsearch.google.com/.