American users are rapidly deleting “ChatGPT,” with a 295% increase in uninstalls recorded on February 28, the day OpenAI announced a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, according to data from TechCrunch.
The surge in deletions contrasts sharply with the typical daily uninstallation rate of approximately 9% observed between January and February. Discontent is likewise reflected in app store ratings, with “ChatGPT” experiencing a 775% increase in one-star reviews in recent days. Downloads of the application have decreased by 13% during the same period.
The decline in “ChatGPT” usage coincides with growing interest in competing artificial intelligence platforms. Downloads of “Claude,” developed by Anthropic, a company that declined to grant the Pentagon full access to its AI models, rose by 37% on Friday and 51% on Saturday. Anthropic has ceased collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense, citing concerns about the potential use of its AI models for American surveillance, while OpenAI has agreed to provide its AI to the Department’s “secret network.”
According to data from Appfigures, “Claude” surpassed “ChatGPT” in popularity in the U.S. App store for the first time over the weekend. In January, Anthropic’s chatbot application wasn’t even among the 100 most popular apps.
“ChatGPT” currently holds over 80% of the global chatbot market, with its closest competitors, “Perplexity” and “Google Gemini,” collectively accounting for 15% of users.
OpenAI recently announced plans to introduce advertisements to “ChatGPT,” a move that will affect both free users and those subscribed to “ChatGPT Go.”
Recent reports indicate that over 40 million people consult “ChatGPT” daily for health-related information, accounting for more than 5% of all queries submitted to the chatbot.
Users have been cautioned against sharing personal information, financial details, or medical data with “ChatGPT” due to potential security risks and misuse of data. The platform receives approximately 2.5 billion queries each day, increasing the likelihood of data breaches or unauthorized access.
