Pinterest Claims More Searches Than ChatGPT Amid Disappointing Earnings

Pinterest CEO touts site's search volume as a bright spot, but stock tumbles after earnings miss.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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After a poor fourth-quarter earnings report, Pinterest CEO Bill Ready attempted to favorably compare the digital pinboarding site to the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT. Ready asserted that Pinterest sees larger search volume than ChatGPT, with 80 billion searches per month compared to ChatGPT's 75 billion. However, Pinterest still missed expectations on revenue and earnings per share, blaming larger advertisers pulling back on spend, particularly in Europe, and a new furniture tariff. Despite growing its user base faster than expected, Pinterest struggled to translate high usage into ad dollars, as users often go to the platform to plan and dream rather than shop and buy.

Why it matters

Pinterest's claim of having more searches than ChatGPT is a potential bright spot, as the company tries to position itself as a unique search destination in the AI era. However, the company's ongoing struggle to monetize its high usage remains a significant challenge, especially as advertisers may shift more dollars to platforms where intent to buy is clearer, such as chatbot requests for product recommendations.

The details

Pinterest reported $1.32 billion in revenue for the fourth quarter, missing the expected $1.33 billion. Earnings per share came in at 67 cents, compared to the projected 69 cents. The company blamed its shortfall on larger advertisers pulling back on spend, particularly in Europe, and a new furniture tariff implemented in October that caused issues within the home category. Pinterest also forecast that first-quarter 2026 sales will come in between $951 million to $971 million, below the $980 million expected.

  • Pinterest reported its fourth-quarter earnings on February 12, 2026.
  • The company expects first-quarter 2026 sales to be between $951 million to $971 million.

The players

Bill Ready

The CEO of Pinterest, who attempted to favorably compare the digital pinboarding site to the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT.

ChatGPT

A popular AI chatbot that Pinterest claims sees fewer searches per month than the digital pinboarding site.

Pinterest

A digital pinboarding site that claims to see 80 billion searches per month, more than ChatGPT's 75 billion.

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What they’re saying

“That makes us one of the largest search destinations in the world. And importantly, more than half of those searches are commercial in nature, compared to, I think . . .approximately 2% [of ChatGPT searches].”

— Bill Ready, CEO (TechCrunch)

“We're helping them complete those commercial journeys without having to type in a single prompt.”

— Bill Ready, CEO (TechCrunch)

“That'll actually be one of the easiest parts of the commercial journey to solve.”

— Bill Ready, CEO (TechCrunch)

What’s next

Pinterest's CEO Bill Ready will likely continue to emphasize the platform's search volume and commercial intent as the company navigates the shift toward AI-powered shopping. Investors will be closely watching to see if Pinterest can translate its high usage into stronger ad revenue in the coming quarters.

The takeaway

Pinterest's claim of having more searches than ChatGPT highlights its potential as a unique search destination, but the company's ongoing struggle to monetize its platform remains a significant challenge. As the AI era advances, Pinterest will need to find ways to better connect its users' planning and dreaming behavior to commercial intent in order to attract more advertising dollars.