When did ChatGPT hit 1 billion users?

ChatGPT crossed 1 billion monthly users some time ago and hit 1 billion weekly users in July, according to OpenAI spokesperson Lindsay McCallum. The company did not announce the milestone until August 6th, though external data suggested ChatGPT crossed 1 billion users as early as June.

How fast was Gemini growing compared to ChatGPT?

Gemini grew from 750 million monthly users in February to 1 billion last week, while ChatGPT had 900 million weekly active users in February and took five months longer to reach 1 billion, representing a significant slowdown. The simplest read is that ChatGPT is the larger platform but Gemini may be the faster growing.

Where are most of Gemini's users?

Gemini has more than 100 million active users on iOS, which means by extension that the vast majority of Gemini's 1 billion users are Android users, where Gemini comes preinstalled on phones.

Large Language ModelsAI Business & IndustryThe Verge AIAug 12, 2026Aug 12, 2026, 10:00 JST

ChatGPT and Gemini both cross 1 billion monthly users

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3 Key Points

What happened
OpenAI's ChatGPT crossed 1 billion monthly users some time ago and hit 1 billion weekly users in July, according to a company spokesperson. Google's Gemini reached 1 billion monthly users last week, making it Google's fastest-growing product ever.
Why it matters
Both milestones mark a dramatic shift in the AI chatbot race. ChatGPT was long touted as the fastest-growing software ever, but reaching 1 billion monthly users five months after hitting 900 million weekly active users in February represents a significant slowdown. Gemini's rise—from 750 million monthly users in February to 1 billion—suggests Google's product may now be growing faster, even though ChatGPT appears to remain the larger platform overall.
What to watch
Gemini has more than 100 million active users on iOS, meaning the vast majority of its 1 billion users are on Android, where it comes preinstalled. Both companies now face the challenge of monetizing these massive user bases rather than simply chasing growth numbers.

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Context & Analysis

The race to 1 billion users marks a turning point in the AI chatbot market. ChatGPT was for years touted as the fastest-growing software ever, and its speed to 1 billion users was a major cultural moment. However, the company's growth has slowed materially: going from 900 million weekly active users in February to 1 billion monthly users five months later represents a significant deceleration compared to its earlier trajectory. OpenAI did not publicize the milestone, burying the announcement in a routine blog post about AI usage patterns.

Google's Gemini, by contrast, has accelerated sharply. The product grew from 750 million monthly users in February to 950 million in late July, crossing 1 billion last week. Google CEO Sundar Pichai publicly announced the milestone, emphasizing that Gemini is Google's fastest-growing product ever. The preinstallation of Gemini on Android devices—which accounts for the vast majority of its user base—gives Google a structural advantage that OpenAI does not have, which may explain why OpenAI is pushing hard into hardware.

These metrics also illustrate the complexity of comparing AI products. ChatGPT's figures (weekly active users in February, monthly users for the 1 billion milestone) do not map exactly to Gemini's (monthly users throughout). Claude, Anthropic's competitor, appears to be growing fast but remains in the tens of millions of users because the company does not disclose user data. The real competition now shifts from raw user acquisition to monetization and utility—what these companies can actually do with a billion users.

FAQ

When did ChatGPT hit 1 billion users?: ChatGPT crossed 1 billion monthly users some time ago and hit 1 billion weekly users in July, according to OpenAI spokesperson Lindsay McCallum. The company did not announce the milestone until August 6th, though external data suggested ChatGPT crossed 1 billion users as early as June.
How fast was Gemini growing compared to ChatGPT?: Gemini grew from 750 million monthly users in February to 1 billion last week, while ChatGPT had 900 million weekly active users in February and took five months longer to reach 1 billion, representing a significant slowdown. The simplest read is that ChatGPT is the larger platform but Gemini may be the faster growing.
Where are most of Gemini's users?: Gemini has more than 100 million active users on iOS, which means by extension that the vast majority of Gemini's 1 billion users are Android users, where Gemini comes preinstalled on phones.

The Verge AIRead Original Article

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