OpenAI has announced that its popular chatbot, ChatGPT, now handles more than 2.5 billion prompts daily worldwide. Since its launch in November 2022, the AI tool has experienced explosive growth. It is now considered one of the fastest-growing consumer applications in history—rivalling only platforms like Instagram and Threads in terms of user adoption.
This figure marks a significant increase from the 1 billion daily prompts ChatGPT recorded in December 2024. Of the 2.5 billion daily queries, approximately 330 million originate from users in the United States alone. The chatbot now processes more than 1.7 million prompts each minute, or around 29,000 per second.
ChatGPT reshaping digital interactions
Although the daily number of queries handled by ChatGPT still trails that of Google Search—which manages about 14 billion searches per day—the nature of ChatGPT’s usage is fundamentally different. Unlike search engines that typically deliver a list of web links, ChatGPT actively engages with users to carry out tasks, automate processes, support research, provide tutoring, and assist with writing and coding.
This versatility has positioned ChatGPT not only as a tool for retrieving information but also as a powerful collaborative assistant. Its growing adoption reflects a wider shift in how people approach online problem-solving and productivity. What began as a novel experiment in generative AI has evolved into a mainstream utility, playing a central role in both personal and professional digital workflows.
OpenAI’s milestone underscores how quickly AI has become embedded in daily digital life. ChatGPT has progressed from an experimental chatbot into a widely used productivity tool, serving millions of users across a broad range of tasks.
Intense competition and ethical challenges
Despite its success, OpenAI faces increasing competition in the generative AI space. Major technology companies, including Google, Microsoft and Meta, are investing heavily in AI-driven productivity tools, while a growing number of startups are also entering the market with their offerings. These companies are working to gain an edge in a sector expected to reshape numerous industries, including education, marketing, customer service, and software development.
However, the race to dominate generative AI has not been without controversy. Many AI companies, including OpenAI, have been criticised for using copyrighted material to train their models without obtaining permission or compensating original creators. This has prompted legal and ethical debates across the creative and publishing industries.
In response to mounting pressure, some firms have begun securing licensing agreements with artists, writers, and publishers. These deals aim to ensure fair use and offer compensation for the use of original content, marking a step towards more responsible development practices in the AI sector.
As the industry continues to mature, the challenge for AI companies will be to maintain innovation while building trust with the public and the creative communities whose technologies they affect.
