OpenAI's ChatGPT reached one billion monthly active app users in May, marking a new milestone for consumer technology adoption.
The chatbot reached the figure roughly three and a half years after its November 2022 launch, making it the fastest app to reach one billion monthly active users, according to estimates from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower.
The milestone surpasses the growth pace previously recorded by platforms such as Google Maps, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
According to a CNBC report, ChatGPT maintained a substantial lead over rival AI applications including Google's Gemini, ByteDance's Doubao and Dola, and Anthropic's Claude. OpenAI said in February that ChatGPT had surpassed 900 million weekly active users across web and mobile platforms, underscoring the scale of its reach.
While ChatGPT remains the dominant AI application by user numbers, competitors recorded significantly faster growth rates. Claude's monthly active users increased 640% year over year, while Meta AI posted 973% growth over the same period. By comparison, ChatGPT's monthly user growth stood at 62%.
The rivalry between the companies has intensified as both pursue public market listings. Anthropic filed paperwork for an initial public offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month, while OpenAI followed with its own IPO filing days later, according to Reuters.
The growth in AI usage has coincided with broader concerns about the technology's impact. During commencement ceremonies at several U.S. universities this year, graduates reacted negatively to references to AI amid worries about job displacement and workplace disruption. Similar concerns have emerged among workers who cite privacy, ethical and environmental considerations when deciding whether to use AI tools.
At the same time, some leading AI developers have publicly raised concerns about the pace of technological advancement. Earlier this month, Anthropic called for discussions around a potential temporary pause in the development of increasingly powerful AI systems, arguing that governance and oversight mechanisms should keep pace with technical progress, according to reporting by The Associated Press. The company said advanced systems are becoming increasingly capable of carrying out complex tasks and that safeguards deserve greater attention.
Despite those concerns, workplace adoption continues to rise. Boston Consulting Group reported that 74% of frontline workers surveyed now use AI regularly, up 23 percentage points from a year earlier. More than 40% of regular users said the technology saves them the equivalent of a full workday each week.
The economic stakes have also grown rapidly. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimated that the global AI market could expand to $4.8 trillion by 2033, up from $189 billion in 2023, highlighting the technology's growing influence across industries and national economies.
