OpenAI’s weekly active user count surged past 400 million, an increase from 300 million users in December, highlighting the swift adoption of AI tools such as ChatGPT.
A spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the Microsoft-backed startup has also achieved a new milestone: 2 million paying business users, doubling the number since September.
The OpenAI user growth streak shines despite the new rivalry. China’s DeepSeek recently unveiled an AI model claiming to rival Western giants at lower costs. Yet, DeepSeek’s surge in demand has led to outages, hinting at scaling struggles for the smaller player.
OpenAI tops 400 million users despite DeepSeek's emergence https://t.co/2I45Xhu6UO
— CNBC (@CNBC) February 20, 2025
Questions Over DeepSeek’s Chips
Curiosity swirls around DeepSeek’s tech. How did it secure Nvidia H800 chips for training, which the U.S. banned from exporting to China? The mystery adds intrigue as OpenAI powers ahead, unfazed.
OpenAI’s momentum isn’t just in users. Developer traffic for its reasoning models doubled in six months. The o3 model, launched in late January, saw a fivefold spike in interest, signaling strong appeal among tech creators.
Operator is now rolling out to Pro users in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and most places ChatGPT is available.
Still working on making Operator available in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein & Iceland—we’ll keep you updated!
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) February 21, 2025
The numbers reflect AI’s rising role worldwide. ChatGPT’s utility and word-of-mouth fuel its climb. Meanwhile, DeepSeek’s stumbles contrast with OpenAI’s steady gains. Business adoption, up over 100% since September, underscores its enterprise strength.
Read: Elon Musk Launches Grok 3, Competing in Global AI Market Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
OpenAI’s growth defies DeepSeek’s buzz. With 400 million weekly users and counting, it’s cementing its lead. Will it sustain this pace? The data says yes—AI adoption is here to stay.