ChatGPT, the AI chatbot that once seemed to be taking over the world, is now experiencing what can only be described as a growth hangover. According to data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, ChatGPT saw a 132 percent increase in uninstalls year over year in April. That number got even worse last month, with uninstalls up 413 percent year-over-year, following OpenAI’s deal with the Pentagon in February.
While ChatGPT is still technically adding users, the pace is decidedly less impressive. Monthly active users grew by 168 percent in January but only 78 percent in April. And while ChatGPT still has a “substantially larger user base” than its rivals, its growth is falling behind Claude’s. Over the past few months, ChatGPT’s downloads were up 14 percent year over year, while Claude saw an 11x increase during the same period.
This slowdown comes at an especially inconvenient time, as OpenAI is eyeing an IPO. CFO Sarah Friar has reportedly expressed concerns about those plans. According to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI recently missed its own internal targets for new users and revenue, sparking worries that “the company might not be able to pay for future computing contracts if revenue doesn’t grow fast enough.” Nothing like a little existential dread to spice up the pre-IPO planning.