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.
