It took OpenAI about three years from the launch of the service to reach this mark. According to Reuters, citing Sensor Tower analysts, ChatGPT is gaining audience faster than Google Maps, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
The growth of the user base is taking place against the backdrop of increasing competition in the artificial intelligence market. OpenAI’s main rival remains Anthropic, developer of AI assistant Claude. As Reuters notes, both companies are looking to strengthen their positions in the fast-growing generative AI market and are preparing to enter the public capital market.
Sensor Tower estimates that Anthropic’s Claude reached 56 million monthly active users worldwide in the second quarter of 2026. Despite a significantly smaller user base compared to ChatGPT, the service is experiencing a higher growth rate. Over the year, the number of Claude users increased by 640%, while the ChatGPT audience grew by 62%.
Analysts also note signs of increased competition for users’ attention. In the U.S., ChatGPT users who installed Claude in the first quarter of 2026, one month after installation, were spending an average of 5% less time on ChatGPT compared to the previous eight months.
The rapid audience growth of AI services reflects the continued expansion of the artificial intelligence market. Therefore, major developers are seeking to increase their user base and strengthen their commercial positions ahead of a possible stock exchange offering.
