ChatGPT sees weekly user count surpass US population, but drama remains for parent company OpenAI

OpenAI‘s ChatGPT has reached a milestone of 400 million weekly active users in February 2025, surpassing the entire US population and marking a 33% increase from December’s 300 million users. This growth comes amid intensifying competition in the AI sector, with OpenAI maintaining its leadership position despite challenges from both established tech companies and new entrants.

Current state of adoption: ChatGPT’s rapid user growth is primarily driven by organic word-of-mouth promotion and users discovering personalized applications for the technology.

• OpenAI’s COO Brad Lightcap attributes the growth to natural progression as people witness friends and colleagues using the tool effectively
• The platform has doubled its paying enterprise users to 2 million since September 2024
• Major corporations including Uber, Morgan Stanley, Moderna, and T-Mobile have integrated OpenAI’s technology into their operations

Technical developments and metrics: Developer engagement with OpenAI’s platforms has shown significant expansion, particularly in specialized applications.

• Developer usage has doubled over the past six months
• The company’s “reasoning” model o3 has experienced a fivefold increase in activity
• Enterprise adoption patterns mirror the historical trajectory of cloud computing services

Competitive landscape: While OpenAI maintains its market leadership, new challengers and controversies have emerged in the AI space.

• DeepSeek, a new competitor, has gained attention for allegedly using “distillation” techniques with OpenAI’s models
• Microsoft has invested billions in OpenAI, while SoftBank is reportedly considering a $40 billion investment that would value OpenAI at $300 billion
• Elon Musk‘s recent lawsuit and unsuccessful $97.4 billion buyout attempt highlight ongoing governance tensions

Legal and business challenges: OpenAI faces multiple obstacles as it continues to scale its operations.

• The New York Times has filed a copyright lawsuit over the alleged unauthorized use of its content for AI training
• OpenAI’s chairman Bret Taylor has explicitly stated the company is not for sale
• The transition from nonprofit to for-profit status continues to generate controversy

Market implications: ChatGPT’s unprecedented user growth signals a fundamental shift in how AI tools are being integrated into daily life and business operations, though questions remain about sustainable monetization strategies and the resolution of pending legal challenges.