Reuters reported on Wednesday that ChatGPT, an AI bot, achieved an astonishing milestone by reaching an estimated 100 million active monthly users last month, a mere two months after its launch. This accomplishment has earned it the title of the “fastest-growing consumer application in history,” as stated in a research note from UBS investment bank. To put this into perspective, TikTok took nine months to reach 100 million monthly users, while Instagram took approximately 2.5 years, according to UBS researcher Lloyd Walmsley.
Lloyd Walmsley, as quoted by Reuters, noted, “In 20 years following the Internet space, we cannot recall a faster ramp in a consumer internet app.”
The data from UBS is attributed to analytics firm Similar Web, which revealed that approximately 13 million unique visitors engaged with ChatGPT every day in January, effectively doubling the user base from December.
ChatGPT, a conversational large language model (LLM), demonstrates remarkable conversational abilities, engaging with users on a wide range of topics at an almost human level. While its accuracy continues to improve, it was initially launched as a free public beta on November 30. Since then, it has captivated audiences in fields like education, computer security, and finance, significantly impacting the tech industry. This impact led to a substantial $10 billion investment from Microsoft and caused Google to reevaluate its own strategies.
In addition to these developments, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Plus on the same Wednesday. This subscription service, priced at $20 per month, offers users faster response times, priority access during peak usage periods, and early access to new features. This move is a response to the overwhelming demand for ChatGPT, which has frequently led to user access denial due to high activity.
Over the past few decades, the rate of technology adoption has accelerated, with inventions such as the telephone, television, and the Internet reaching mass audiences in increasingly shorter time frames. Could generative AI tools be the next on this list? Considering ChatGPT’s remarkable trajectory, it’s entirely plausible.