According to a study by UBS, the chatbot application ChatGPT from OpenAI reached an estimated 100 million monthly active users in January, only two months after its launch. This rapid growth has been recognized as the fastest of any consumer application in history, as reported by data analytics firm Similarweb.
The study highlights that ChatGPT received an average of 13 million unique daily visitors in January, which is more than double the amount from the previous month of December. This remarkable growth is unparalleled, with UBS analysts stating that in their 20 years of observing the internet space, they have not witnessed a quicker ramp-up of a consumer internet app.
For comparison, TikTok took approximately 9 months to reach 100 million users after its global launch, and Instagram took 2 and a half years, according to data from Sensor Tower. ChatGPT offers a wide range of functions, including generating articles, jokes, essays, and even poetry in response to user prompts. OpenAI, a private company backed by Microsoft Corp, made the application publicly available for free in November.
OpenAI recently announced a monthly subscription fee of $20, initially available only to users in the United States. The subscription will offer a more stable and faster service, as well as the opportunity to try new features first. Analysts predict that the viral launch of ChatGPT will provide OpenAI with a first-mover advantage against other AI companies. Additionally, the growing user base, although presenting substantial computing costs for OpenAI, has provided valuable feedback to help train and improve the chatbot’s responses.
