Boom Times For ChatGPT - by Alex Kantrowitz
ChatGPT is experiencing a significant surge in traffic. After a period of stagnant usage in early 2024, the chatbot has hit an inflection point and is now surpassing its competitors, according to new data from analytics firm Similarweb. In January 2025, OpenAI's flagship bot recorded 3.8 billion visits on desktop and mobile web, more than double the visits of Bing, its closest competitor, and far ahead of Google's Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, and Perplexity.
This surge in traffic marks a remarkable turnaround for ChatGPT following a prolonged period of stagnation. The chatbot struggled to surpass 1.9 billion visits until May 2024. According to David Carr, editor for insights news and research at SimilarWeb, the initial rush was driven by novelty, but more users have now found practical applications for the app.
Significant Improvements and Competition
OpenAI's success with ChatGPT comes at a crucial time, especially after facing competition from DeepSeek. Despite the challenges, OpenAI continues to enhance ChatGPT, incorporating features such as image generation with Dall-E, advanced models, and improved performance. The bot has also benefited from sustained public interest and diverse usage scenarios.
While OpenAI holds a prominent position in the AI market with ChatGPT, it faces ongoing competition. The recent surge in DeepSeek's popularity posed a challenge, with ChatGPT registering 139 million visits compared to DeepSeek's 49 million during a peak period. Nevertheless, OpenAI's strong brand in AI technology positions ChatGPT as a leader in the field.
Future Prospects and Industry Trends
Looking ahead, OpenAI aims to solidify ChatGPT's position by engaging with a broader audience. The company's decision to run a Super Bowl ad reflects its commitment to enhancing brand awareness and establishing ChatGPT as a household name in artificial intelligence.
As for competitors like Bing, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude, the numbers speak for themselves. ChatGPT's dominance with 3.8 billion visits in January underscores its market leadership, leaving other platforms significantly behind.
