Public sentiment towards artificial intelligence has shifted dramatically, with notable figures like the Pope and tech company Anthropic expressing concerns about the risks associated with unchecked AI development.
Nevertheless, global AI usage has reached unprecedented levels, with OpenAI's ChatGPT becoming the fastest app to hit one billion monthly active users, achieving this milestone in just 3.5 years since its launch in November 2022.
Sensor Tower reported that ChatGPT's user growth, while impressive, is being challenged by competitors like Anthropic's Claude and Meta AI, which have seen substantial year-over-year increases in usage. Despite ChatGPT's lead, the competition is catching up, with Claude and Meta AI's monthly usage rising by 640% and 973%, respectively, compared to ChatGPT's 62%.
The public's unease about AI was evident when ChatGPT experienced a significant spike in uninstalls following OpenAI's announcement of a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, while Anthropic's refusal to engage in Pentagon operations boosted its app downloads. Both OpenAI and Anthropic are now pursuing public listings, indicating confidence in their growth trajectories.
Analysts suggest that while ethical concerns may influence individual user choices, the overall trend of AI adoption remains strong, with a Boston Consulting Group poll revealing that 74% of frontline workers regularly use AI, reflecting a growing reliance on these technologies.
The United Nations projects that the AI market could exceed $4.8 trillion by 2033, suggesting that despite negative sentiment, the demand for AI solutions will likely continue to rise