WASHINGTON: Artificial intelligence-powered chatbot ChatGPT has set a new global record for user growth, reaching 1 billion users in just three years since its launch, according to data and reports.
Since its introduction in November 2022, ChatGPT has been used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, triggering a surge in interest in AI-based tools and prompting major technology companies to accelerate development of competing chatbot systems.
The milestone places ChatGPT ahead of major social media and digital platforms in terms of speed to reach 1 billion users. By comparison, TikTok took 5.1 years to reach the same milestone, Instagram required 7.7 years, YouTube took 8.1 years, and Facebook reached it in 8.7 years.
According to a Reuters report, ChatGPT reached the 1 billion-user mark in May 2026, marking a significant moment in the rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence tools.
Data from Sensor Tower suggests that rival AI chatbot Claude is also gaining traction, with around 56 million monthly users. However, ChatGPT’s growth remains significantly higher, with a 62% increase in users over the past year, compared with a 640% surge for Claude during the same period.
Experts say the rapid adoption of ChatGPT highlights how AI assistants are becoming an integral part of daily life, increasingly used for writing, planning, coding, research, and other productivity tasks.
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The milestone underscores the growing dominance of AI-powered tools in the global digital ecosystem, reshaping how users interact with technology.
