Following a rapid surge in popularity from late 2014 through early 2023, it appears that OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, is beginning to experience a decline in user engagement. Recent data from web analytics firm Similarweb indicates that global mobile and desktop traffic to ChatGPT’s website dropped by 9.7 percent last month. This decline represents a significant milestone, marking the first recorded decrease in user activity for the chatbot. Furthermore, in June, app tracker Sensor Tower reported a similar trend, noting a downturn in downloads after peaking earlier that month. OpenAI has yet to respond to requests for comments from Engadget regarding these findings.
The decreasing interest in ChatGPT appears to reflect a broader trend within the industry. According to Similarweb, fewer users are visiting the desktop and mobile websites of competing platforms such as Microsoft Bing, Google Bard, and Character.AI in recent months. For instance, Microsoft experienced a spike in traffic to its search engine between February and March, coinciding with the public preview of Bing AI. However, since that time, the monthly traffic has gradually declined, reverting close to pre-revamp levels. Additionally, Similarweb has reported an 8.5 percent decrease in ChatGPT engagement, with user minutes dropping since May 2023.
As for the reasons behind this decline, The Post suggests that the end of the academic year may play a significant role. With many university students on summer break, there are likely fewer young people utilizing ChatGPT for writing assistance on their assignments. Another contributing factor could be that major corporations, such as Samsung, are reconsidering their use of AI chatbots due to various challenges. Regardless of the cause for this decrease, it is unlikely that anyone at OpenAI is overly concerned. In fact, the research lab may welcome a reduction in users on the public version of ChatGPT, as CEO Sam Altman has commented on the substantial costs associated with maintaining the service.
