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Sensor Tower's latest data shows the early growth spurt for ChatGPT easing as rivals — notably Google Gemini, Perplexity and Anthropic's Claude — post remarkable gains. The race has shifted from hype to features, integrations and retention.
Why growth numbers are changing
According to reporting in The Washington Post based on Sensor Tower figures, ChatGPT's monthly active user growth between August and November has slowed to just 6%, with the service at roughly 810 million monthly active users. In contrast, Google Gemini grew about 30% in the same period. That slowdown hints at market saturation for early adopters and a move toward competition centered on product depth rather than novelty.
What’s fueling Gemini’s momentum?
Google hasn't gotten lucky — its gains have two clear drivers. First, the September launch of the Nano Banana image-generation model pushed session times in Gemini up 120%, lifting average daily engagement to about 11 minutes. Second, deep integration with Android has been a multiplier: Sensor Tower data shows roughly twice as many Gemini users accessing it directly through the Android OS as those who installed a standalone app. Seamless placement inside the operating system lowers friction and boosts adoption.
Fast-growing challengers: Perplexity and Anthropic
It isn't just Google. Startups are scaling fast. Perplexity led category downloads with an astonishing 370% spike, making it the fastest-growing app by downloads and new users. Anthropic’s Claude also posted major gains, up about 190%. By comparison, ChatGPT's download growth of 85% lagged the broader market average of 110% over the same window.
OpenAI’s response: a “code red”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly declared a company-wide "code red," urging teams to pivot from flashy features to shoring up infrastructure and core reliability. The message is clear: when user growth slows, engineering fundamentals and product stability matter more than ever.
What this means for users and the market
- Expect more feature parity as rivals adopt similar capabilities — differentiation will come from UX, integrations, and trust.
- Android-level placements and standout models (like Nano Banana) can dramatically increase engagement.
- Firmer infrastructure focus could improve reliability and long-term retention for major platforms.
In short, the AI-app market is maturing. The early gold rush of downloads is giving way to a competitive phase where speed alone won’t win — usability, platform ties and backend resilience will.
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