[APAC Webinar] The new search journey: How AI is changing online discovery

For years, typing a question into a search engine was simply what you did. Now, more people are turning to AI chatbots first, asking a question and getting a direct answer instead of a list of links.

But how far has this shift actually gone in Australia, India, Hong Kong and Singapore? Are consumers replacing search engines with AI tools, or just adding them to the mix? And when an AI assistant gives an answer, do people actually believe it?

YouGov recently surveyed consumers across these four markets to find out where searches actually start, how AI assistants are being used day to day, and what it would take to earn more trust in the answers they give.

Join us on 13 August 2026, 11:30 AM IST / 4:00 PM AEST, as Fumin Rianto (Research Director, YouGov Australia) and Dicky Li (Business Development Manager, YouGov Hong Kong) walk through the data and what it means for brands trying to stay visible in this changing search landscape.

Here's what the session will cover:

• How search engine use stacks up against AI chatbot use in each market
• Where consumers turn first for different kinds of online searches
• What people actually do after an AI chatbot answers their question
• How search habits differ by generation across the four markets
• What would make consumers trust AI-generated answers more than they do today

Meet the speakers

Fumin Rianto, Research Director, YouGov Australia

Fumin is Research Director at YouGov Australia. He has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Master of Marketing from the University of Technology Sydney.

With more than 10 years of experience in conducting and delivering quantitative and qualitative market research, Fumin has developed deep expertise in the financial services sector, spanning banking, superannuation, insurance, investment, and wealth management. He has led numerous projects exploring investor sentiment, adviser relationships, product development, brand health and customer experience, helping clients translate complex financial behaviours into clear, actionable insights. Beyond financial services, Fumin also works closely with clients across travel and tourism, technology, FMCG, not-for-profit and the public sector, supporting them with evidence-based strategies to drive growth and strengthen their connection with customers.

Dicky Li, Business Development Manager, YouGov Hong Kong

Dicky Li is a Business Development professional at YouGov, with over 8 years of experience driving client growth and partnerships across Asia. Based in Hong Kong, he has built a strong track record in helping organizations leverage data-driven insights to make better decisions.

YouGov

YouGov is a global research data and analytics group that is powered by reality. Thanks to a unique panel comprising millions of highly engaged members across 64 markets, we deliver unsurpassed accuracy, to inform better, more impactful decisions.

When you want unsurpassed accuracy to inform more impactful decisions, you need real-time, real-world data from real people.