It’s been a remarkable journey since the launch of ChatGPT, and as we celebrate its one-year anniversary, the impact of this innovative chatbot technology on mainstream users cannot be overstated. What started as a research preview has now evolved into an everyday tool that has taken the world by storm.
According to new data from mobile intelligence provider data.ai, the iOS and Android versions of ChatGPT have now surpassed a combined 110 million total installs. Additionally, these apps have generated close to $30 million in global consumer spending in just one year.
This market analysis offered exclusively to TechCrunch highlights the incredible demand for ChatGPT’s convenient mobile access. It has rapidly become one of the most ubiquitous AI chatbot platforms, spanning both desktop and mobile.
Unprecedented Mobile Adoption Accelerates Mainstream Success
A pivotal chapter in ChatGPT’s success narrative unfolded with the introduction of its mobile app. Launched in May 2023 on iOS and subsequently in July on Android, the mobile app acted as a catalyst, propelling ChatGPT into the hands of millions of consumers.
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Within a couple of months after launch, ChatGPT’s mobile apps quickly started setting records. The Android version alone saw an unprecedented 18 million downloads in its first week – a figure that still stands as the highest ever.
One year later, that incredible momentum hasn’t slowed down. Across iOS and Android, ChatGPT now averages over 4 million new installs every single week for the past five weeks. This puts it far ahead of AI chatbot competitors like Character AI, Ask AI, Open Chat, and others in terms of real-world mobile usage.
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Much of this viral success is thanks to growing international adoption too. While the U.S. still accounts for 17.5% of installs, India actually leads at 18% share. Ultimately, by making its advanced natural language processing easily accessible on smartphones, ChatGPT has rapidly familiarized mainstream consumers with transformative AI.
Lucrative Subscription Revenue Powers Strong Business Foundations
Beyond just installs, the premium ChatGPT Plus subscription has also proven extremely lucrative so far. For $19.99 per month, it gives mobile users perks like priority access during peak demand, faster response times, and early previews of new features.
Globally, ChatGPT mobile app users have already spent nearly $30 million on these subscriptions. And with expanded payment availability to countries outside the U.S. enabled earlier this year, that figure seems poised to keep steadily rising.
At present, ChatGPT may not lead rivals in terms of absolute revenue. But its lower pricing tiers and general utility focus likely give it plenty of room to grow in the long run. As special use-case GPT models roll out as well, it could further boost engagement sessions over time.
By the end of 2023, expect at least tens of millions more downloads and likely over $50 million in total mobile consumer spending. Just one short year in, ChatGPT’s remarkable potential seems truly limitless thanks to its rampant global mobile app adoption.
