ChatGPT sets record for fastest growing user base – analyst note

Feb 1 (Reuters) – ChatGPT, the popular chatbot from OpenAI, is estimated to have reached 100 million monthly active users in January, just two months after its launch, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history, according to a UBS study on Wednesday.

The report, citing data from research firm Similarweb, said an average of around 1[ads1]3 million unique visitors had used ChatGPT per day in January, more than double the level in December.

“In 20 years of the Internet space, we cannot recall a faster ramp in a consumer Internet app,” UBS analysts wrote in the note.

It took TikTok about nine months after its global launch to reach 100 million users and Instagram 2-1/2 years, according to Sensor Tower data.

ChatGPT can generate articles, essays, jokes and even poetry in response to questions. OpenAI, a private company backed by Microsoft Corp ( MSFT.O ), 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 US. That would provide a more stable and faster service as well as the ability to try new features first, the company said.

Analysts believe the viral launch of ChatGPT will give OpenAI a first-mover advantage over other AI companies. The growing use, while imposing significant computing costs on OpenAI, has also provided valuable feedback to help train the chatbot’s responses.

The company said the subscription revenue would help cover data costs.

The availability of the tool has raised questions about facilitating academic dishonesty and misinformation.

Last month, Microsoft announced another multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI in the form of cash and the provision of cloud computing.

Reporting by Krystal Hu in Toronto; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Bradley Perrett

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