OpenAI’s popular chatbot, ChatGPT, is estimated to reach 100 million monthly active users in January, just two months after its launch, according to a UBS study on Wednesday, making it the most in history. is the fastest growing consumer application.
The report cites data from analytics firm Similarweb, saying that an average of 13 million unique visitors per day used ChatGPT in January, double the level in December.
“In the 20 years since the Internet space, we cannot miss the rapid ramp-up in consumer Internet adoption,” UBS analysts wrote in the note.
According to data from Sensor Tower, TikTok took about nine months to reach 100 million users and Instagram 2-1/2 years after its global launch.
Chat can also create essays, articles, jokes and poetry in response to GPT prompts. OpenAI, a private company backed by Microsoft Corp., made it available to the public for free in late November.
On Thursday, OpenAI announced a $20 monthly subscription, initially only for users in the United States. The company said it will provide a more stable and faster service as well as an opportunity to try out new features first.
Analysts believe that ChatGPT’s virality will give OpenAI a first-mover advantage over other AI companies. Increased usage, while imposing considerable computing costs on OpenAI, also provided valuable feedback to help train chatbot responses.
Subscription revenue will help offset computing costs, the company said.
The availability of this tool has raised questions about academic dishonesty and the facilitation of misinformation.
Last month, Microsoft announced another multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI in the form of cash and cloud computing supplies.
