When people asked ChatGPT for the best product without mentioning a year, 66.5% of the hidden web searches ChatGPT ran to answer added "2026" on its own. Across every kind of question without a year the rate was 31.2%, and for time-sensitive topics ChatGPT adds the full date.
Source: Suff Digital analysis of 602 hidden ChatGPT searches behind 408 answers · ChatGPT with web search, September 2026
Source: Across 602 Hidden ChatGPT Searches, 66.5% of 'Best Product' Searches Added the Year - Suff Digital