ChatGPT hits 1 billion monthly users, fastest app ever despite growing AI backlash

ChatGPT hits a billion monthly app users despite souring public AI sentiment

With college graduates jeering mentions of artificial intelligence at commencement speeches, and voices as disparate as the Pope and technology giant Anthropic warning of the risks of unmitigated AI development, public sentiment toward the technology has sobered considerably since its early euphoria. Yet despite mounting public backlash, global AI usage has surged to record highs. OpenAI's ChatGPT reached one billion monthly app users, or MAUs, in May, according to recent estimates from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. Other AI apps including Anthropic's Claude made triple-digit year-over-year percentage gains in users, the data company said. With its billion-MAU figure -- achieved roughly 3.5 years after its November 2022 launch -- ChatGPT became the fastest app ever to reach the milestone, surpassing the previous record set by Google Maps, which took around five years after launch to reach the same volume of usage, Sensor Tower said. OpenAI, which did not respond to CNBC's requests for comment, said in February that ChatGPT saw more than 900 million weekly active users across web and mobile platforms and claimed it had more than six times the monthly web visits and mobile sessions of the next largest AI platform. According to Sensor Tower, OpenAI's market-leading large language model was trailed by offerings from its competitors, including Google's Gemini, ByteDance's Doubao and its overseas variant Dola, as well as Claude from rival developer Anthropic. But while ChatGPT enjoys a significant lead in monthly users, rival models are quickly catching up. Monthly usage of Claude and Meta AI respectively rose by 640% and 973% year-on-year, compared to ChatGPT's 62%, per Sensor Tower estimates. Despite its "early mover advantage," usage of ChatGPT's competition has grown on tangible model improvements, as well as more positive market sentiment, Abe Yousef, Sensor Tower's senior insights analyst, told CNBC. Yousef cited OpenAI's February deal with the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy its models on classified Pentagon networks as an instance where public unease drove usership. ChatGPT uninstalls surged around 295% day-on-day on Feb. 28 -- the day after OpenAI announced its Pentagon agreement, according to Sensor Tower data. Anthropic gained a boost from sentiment toward ChatGPT, as Claude soared to the App Store's top spot that same weekend, outpacing ChatGPT by U.S. downloads for the first time, after it refused involvement in Pentagon operations. Both Anthropic and OpenAI have recently begun proceedings for widely anticipated public listings, with Sam Altman's OpenAI submitting its IPO filing Monday afternoon stateside, hot on the heels of Anthropic, which filed its IPO prospectus with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a week earlier.

ChatGPT becomes the fastest app to reach 1 billion monthly active users, just as AI sentiment worsens

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Editor's take: Much like the Call of Duty series and pornography, generative AI is one of those things that's incredibly popular despite a lot of people claiming to dislike it. ChatGPT, for example, has just reached one billion monthly app users, just 3.5 years after it launched in November 2022. Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower reports that ChatGPT has become the fastest app ever to reach one billion monthly app users (MAUs), beating the previous record holder, Google Maps, which took around five years after launch to hit the same number. ChatGPT isn't the only AI app experiencing immense popularity right now. The monthly number of Claude and Meta AI users increased by 640% and 973% year-on-year. ChatGPT was up by a mere 62%, though it remains the clear leader. Abe Yousef, Sensor Tower's senior insights analyst, told CNBC that model improvements and more positive market sentiment have pushed the growth of ChatGPT's rivals. Earlier this year, OpenAI was one of several companies to sign deals with the Pentagon. It led to a huge consumer backlash, prompting CEO Sam Altman to promise additional safeguards to prevent government use of the technology for surveillance of US citizens - while leaving several obvious loopholes in place, of course. Sensor Tower found that ChatGPT uninstalls surged around 295% day-over-day on February 28, the day after OpenAI announced the Pentagon agreement. It also led to Anthropic's Claude becoming the top free app on the iPhone. Anthropic has refused to let the government use its models for mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons, leading to a bitter dispute and the company's blacklisting over claims that it posed a national security risk. But it was recently reported that the NSA is using Claude Mythos for offensive cyber operations. Paradoxically, the use of generative AI tools is growing as public opinion toward the technology worsens. In addition to the tens of thousands of job losses being caused, which some now say never really happened, the anger toward new data center builds is growing. On that note, an OpenAI report this week claimed that Chinese ChatGPT users were trying to encourage anti-data center feelings in the US. The company admitted that their efforts had little effect - it's not like people don't hate the facilities already - but the report might encourage some people to soften their opposition simply because they don't want to be thought of as "influenced" by China.

ChatGPT hits 1 billion users as global AI adoption surges despite backlash

Public sentiment towards artificial intelligence has declined amid warnings from high-profile figures, including the Pope and tech companies, about the risks associated with unregulated AI development. Despite a backlash, global AI usage has surged, with OpenAI's ChatGPT reaching one billion monthly users in May 2023, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. ChatGPT became the fastest app to reach this milestone, achieving it in approximately 3.5 years following its launch in November 2022, surpassing Google Maps, which reached the threshold in five years. OpenAI reported over 900 million weekly active users across web and mobile platforms and claimed its app had more than six times the monthly visits compared to other AI platforms. Although ChatGPT leads in user numbers, competitors like Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude have seen significant growth. Claude's monthly usage increased by 640% year-on-year, while Meta AI experienced a 973% rise. In contrast, ChatGPT's growth was measured at just 62% during the same period, reflecting heightened competition. Analysts indicate that improvements in model performance and shifts in market sentiment have benefited these rivals. OpenAI's partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy AI models on classified networks contributed to a 295% increase in uninstalls of ChatGPT on February 28, 2023. Meanwhile, Claude gained traction, topping the App Store charts after Anthropic refused to engage with Pentagon projects. Both Anthropic and OpenAI have initiated public listing processes, with Anthropic filing an IPO prospectus a week before OpenAI's submission. The popularity of AI technology comes despite growing concerns regarding its implications. Anthropic recently called for a pause in AI development, warning that uncontrolled advancements could lead to serious consequences. The company emphasized the need for increased security and monitoring in AI systems capable of self-improvement.