AI Search Tools and the Future of the World Wide Web

***** THIS IS AN AWARD NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This procurement is being concluded as a direct award under the FUTURES FRAMEWORK REFERENCE NUMBER: PS22410 Brief Description of Requirement Science and technology are central to economic growth and national resilience, but their rapid pace presents risks alongside opportunities. The Government Office for Science (GOS) plays a key role in supporting HMG's strategic foresight around science and technology, through horizon scanning, technology assessments, and foresight projects. To do this effectively, GOS requires evidence-based, expert-backed insight into potential future developments. One signal of interest to GOS is how the development of AI search tools (such as Generative AI and agentic AI) has changed the way that users interact with the World Wide Web and the resulting consequences. There are reports that the incorporation of AI in search tools has resulted in less website traffic, which firms, organisations and publishers rely on, disrupting the current economic model of the Web.