ChatGPT’s popularity is skyrocketing. A recent analysis by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) highlights that OpenAI’s AI-powered chatbot has doubled its weekly active users in less than six months.
Explosive User Growth
In November 2023, ChatGPT had around 100 million weekly active users. By August 2024, that figure had surged to 200 million. Now, within just half a year, it has reached an astonishing 400 million users per week—an impressive milestone.
Since its debut in November 2022, ChatGPT has consistently shattered records. It became the fastest app to reach 100 million monthly users, achieving that feat in just two months. The demand has only grown, thanks to continuous updates and enhanced functionalities.
What’s Fueling ChatGPT’s Expansion?
Initially, people flocked to ChatGPT out of curiosity, but regular use wasn’t widespread. That has changed. OpenAI’s ongoing improvements have made the chatbot more practical and engaging for everyday users.
The introduction of GPT-4o in early 2024 was a game-changer. This update enabled ChatGPT to handle text, images, and audio seamlessly, driving a significant increase in user engagement between April and May.
Further, the launch of Advanced Voice Mode in July caused another surge in adoption. Then, with the release of the o1 model series between September and October, ChatGPT’s momentum only accelerated.
Rising Mobile Adoption
ChatGPT’s mobile user base has been expanding steadily. According to a16z, mobile usage has been growing between 5% and 15% monthly. Currently, 175 million out of the chatbot’s 400 million weekly active users engage with it via mobile devices.
Growing Competition in the AI Chatbot Market
While ChatGPT leads the industry, it faces increasing competition. Emerging challengers like DeepSeek have gained traction quickly. Within just 10 days, DeepSeek secured the No. 2 spot globally, and by February 2025, it had captured 15% of ChatGPT’s mobile audience.
Among mobile AI chatbot users, DeepSeek has slightly higher engagement rates than Perplexity and Claude. However, ChatGPT still dominates by a wide margin.
ChatGPT Remains the Industry Leader
Despite the growing rivalry, ChatGPT continues to hold the top position. It leads in unique monthly web visits and mobile active users, as confirmed by Similarweb’s market analysis. While competition is heating up, OpenAI’s chatbot remains the dominant force in the AI conversation landscape.