In June, the number of users using ChatGPT, a well-liked AI chatbot from OpenAI, decreased for the first time ever. Data from web analytics company similar web shows a 9.7% global decline in mobile and desktop traffic to ChatGPT’s website. Since the service’s debut in November 2022, ChatGPT has never experienced a decline in user numbers until now.
The decrease in ChatGPT users could be caused by a number of factors. It’s possible that people are just growing less interested in AI chatbots. Another explanation is that people are using other AI chatbots like Microsoft Bing or Bard. It’s also possible that a number of factors are at play, contributing to the decline in user numbers.
Whatever the cause, the decline in ChatGPT’s user base is a sign that the market for AI chatbots is becoming more established. Simply building a technically impressive chatbot is no longer sufficient. To draw and keep users, chatbots must also be interesting and helpful.
It will be interesting to see how ChatGPT handles the drop in users. Will the business alter the chatbot to make it more interesting and practical? Will it simply weather the storm and wait for the demand for AI chatbots to increase? Time will only tell.
Here are some more explanations for the decline in ChatGPT users:
- In the US, where mobile and desktop traffic to ChatGPT’s website fell by 12.5%, the decline was most pronounced.
- Major markets including the UK, Canada, and Australia all declined.
- ChatGPT was not alone in losing users. Similarweb found traffic drops for other AI chatbots including Microsoft Bing and Google Bard.
- AI chatbots’ popularity is falling, as is ChatGPT’s. Gartner predicted a 20% reduction in the worldwide AI chatbot industry in 2023.
- ChatGPT’s user numbers may be declining since the chatbot has been criticized for producing inappropriate and hazardous content. After producing racist, sexist, and homophobic posts, Twitter suspended ChatGPT in April 2023.
- Newer AI chatbots like Google Bard and Character.AI may also have displaced ChatGPT’s users. These chatbots are lauded for their realistic and entertaining discussions.
ChatGPT may recover in the following months. However, its declining user numbers indicate that it is no longer the AI chatbot industry leader. ChatGPT’s user decline’s long-term effects are unknown. However, the AI chatbot market is evolving and organizations must do more to attract and maintain consumers.
Whatever caused the decline, OpenAI is not panicking. ChatGPT’s public edition’s lower use may please the research lab. The service’s “eye-watering” running costs are OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman’s claim.
