Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT both surpass one billion users
The milestone marks a shift in the artificial intelligence sector, with Google’s Gemini closing the gap on the long-dominant ChatGPT.
Google’s Gemini application has reached one billion monthly active users, a milestone confirmed by CEO Sundar Pichai on Tuesday. In a post on X, Pichai described Gemini as Google’s fastest-growing product ever, marking the 14th time a Google product has achieved this scale. The announcement follows reports from Google spokesperson Alex Joseph that the user base hit the one billion mark last week.
This development places Gemini on par with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which also crossed the one billion user threshold earlier this year. OpenAI confirmed the achievement in an August blog post, though external data suggests the platform may have reached the milestone as early as June. Spokesperson Lindsay McCallum stated that ChatGPT hit one billion weekly users in July, having previously reported 900 million weekly active users in February.
The contrasting growth trajectories highlight a shifting landscape in the artificial intelligence sector. While ChatGPT remains the larger platform, its growth rate has decelerated compared to its earlier years as the fastest-growing software ever. Conversely, Gemini’s ascent has been rapid, rising from 750 million monthly users in February to 950 million in late July before reaching the one billion mark.
Google’s user figures appear to be driven largely by its integration into the Android ecosystem. Gemini chief Josh Woodward noted that the app has more than 100 million active users on iOS, implying that the vast majority of its user base is on Android. The preinstalled version on Android phones is included in these figures, whereas integrations into other Google products are not counted towards the total.
The race to one billion users signals a transition for the industry, with competitors now focusing on monetisation and utility. Anthropic’s Claude is also growing, with estimates placing its user base in the tens of millions, though the company does not disclose specific figures. As the gap between the major players narrows, the focus is shifting from user acquisition to finding sustainable revenue models for the massive installed bases.
