ChatGPT Hits 1 Billion Users in Under 3.5 Years; Competitors Surge Amid Public Unease - News and Statistics

Jun 12, 2026

Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, as reported by CNBC, revealed that OpenAI’s ChatGPT exceeded one billion monthly active users in May, setting a record as the fastest application to achieve that milestone. Sensor Tower noted that ChatGPT reached this mark in under three and a half years following its November 2022 introduction; the previous record holder, Google Maps, took roughly five years to gather a similar user base.

However, competing AI applications are closing the gap at a significantly quicker pace. Sensor Tower data cited by Reuters shows Meta AI’s year-over-year user growth at 973% and Claude’s at 640%, in sharp contrast to ChatGPT’s 62% growth during the same period. Sensor Tower’s figures for the current quarter place Claude’s global monthly active app user count at 56 million, according to Reuters.

Sensor Tower senior insights analyst Abe Yousef attributed these gains to concrete model enhancements and a change in how users view competing platforms. OpenAI’s February deal to offer its models on classified Pentagon networks exemplified this trend: Sensor Tower recorded an approximately 295% day-over-day increase in ChatGPT uninstalls right after that announcement. Over that same weekend, with Anthropic having stepped back from Pentagon involvement, Claude reached the top spot on the App Store and, for the first time, beat ChatGPT in U.S. download numbers.

Sensor Tower data indicated that when American ChatGPT users added Claude to their devices during the first quarter of 2026, their time spent on ChatGPT fell by 5% within a month compared to the eight-month baseline before that.

This usage increase is happening amid rising public concern. At U.S. graduation ceremonies, students have openly voiced frustration with AI, citing worries about lost entry-level jobs and environmental impact. A separate May survey identified workers who have chosen not to use the technology due to ethical, environmental, or privacy reasons. Last week, Anthropic called for a global halt to AI development, warning that unchecked progress could spiral beyond human control.

Both OpenAI and Anthropic are now pursuing public listings. OpenAI filed a confidential S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, valued at $852 billion, while Anthropic submitted its IPO prospectus a week earlier at a $965 billion valuation.

These headwinds have barely affected actual usage, according to Sensor Tower’s Yousef, who noted steadily increasing engagement across AI platforms even as criticism grows. A BCG survey of roughly 12,000 frontline workers, released June 3, found that nearly three-quarters now regularly use AI—a share that has risen 23 percentage points from the previous year.

1. INTRODUCTION

Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

REPORT DESCRIPTION
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A Quick Overview of Market Performance

KEY FINDINGS
MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO

3. MARKET OVERVIEW

Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
MARKET FORECAST TO 2035

4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT

5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
UNSATURATED MARKETS
TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

7. PRODUCTION

The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

8. IMPORTS

The Largest Import Supplying Countries

IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

9. EXPORTS

The Largest Destinations for Exports

EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

11. COUNTRY PROFILES

The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

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PRO

11.1

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