ChatGPT’s mobile business experienced an astounding upswing, setting new records in terms of downloads and revenue. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as it occurred during a challenging period for the global generative AI (GenAI) market, which has been grappling to recover from a substantial downturn following a peak in Q1.
ChatGPT’s hit GenAI chatbot notched an astonishing 15.6 million downloads worldwide, concurrently generating a substantial $4.58 million in gross revenue across its mobile applications.
The upward trajectory has been palpable since June, when ChatGPT’s mobile platform generated $2.1 million in gross revenue. This growth continued with $2.74 million in July and $3.81 million in August. September’s record revenue marked an almost $1 million increase, signaling a promising trend.
Monetization strategies in action
ChatGPT’s revenue milestones coincide with OpenAI’s ongoing efforts to monetize its resource-intensive chatbot. In February, OpenAI introduced a subscription service called ChatGPT+, offering users prioritized access during peak times, faster responses, and access to a range of new features—all for a monthly fee of $19.99.
In addition to revenue gains, ChatGPT has been steadily expanding its mobile user base. The majority of downloads in September, totaling 9 million out of 15.6 million, came from Google Play.
Despite ChatGPT’s impressive achievements in both user base expansion and revenue generation, the global GenAI market has faced challenges in recapturing the heights achieved in Q1 2023. During that period, global GenAI deals reached an impressive $12.2 billion, as reported by GlobalData’s deal database.
GenAI market rollercoaster: Q1 Peaks and Q2 slumps
Following the Q1 peak, the GenAI market experienced a significant downturn in Q2, with deals amounting to just $5.9 billion. Although there was a slight improvement in Q3, the total still fell significantly short of Q1’s record, reaching only $6.5 billion.
GlobalData predicts that GenAI will have a pervasive impact on businesses across all sectors in the years ahead. As the technology becomes increasingly accurate and offers reliable factual advice, its influence is expected to extend beyond sectors and business functions, revolutionizing various aspects of the industry.
The transformative potential of GenAI
According to GlobalData’s Artificial Intelligence 2023 Thematic Report, businesses are now actively seeking intelligent chatbots and other GenAI integrations to elevate their development stack and enhance customer experiences, including image, video, and audio applications.
While ChatGPT’s mobile business has achieved remarkable milestones in downloads and revenue, the broader GenAI market has encountered turbulence. However, the potential for GenAI to reshape industries remains undeniable, promising a future where intelligent AI solutions play a pivotal role in transforming businesses and customer interactions.
