Sergey Diakov
⬤ Recent U.S. generative AI app usage data exposes just how far ahead ChatGPT has pulled from its competitors. According to Similarweb figures, ChatGPT now sits at 41.3 million monthly active users with an impressive 33% stickiness rate—meaning roughly one in three users opens the app every single day. The data tracks major players including Perplexity, Copilot, Gemini, Grok, Claude, and Deepseek, revealing a market that's quickly splitting into distinct performance tiers.
⬤ The mid-tier apps tell an interesting story. Perplexity draws 3.4 million monthly users, Copilot hits 3.1 million, and Gemini reaches 2.4 million, but their stickiness rates range from just 5% to 17%. This suggests people turn to these platforms for specific tasks rather than daily habits. Gemini's 5% daily-use rate stands out as particularly low given its substantial audience. Meanwhile, Grok pulls 1.8 million users with 14% stickiness, and Claude attracts 1.3 million at 16% stickiness—smaller crowds, but more committed ones. Deepseek trails the pack at 0.8 million users with the weakest engagement metrics across the board.
⬤ What's becoming clear is that the AI app space is dividing into two camps. ChatGPT has locked down the high-frequency, general-purpose assistant role with both massive scale and strong daily usage. Apps like Perplexity, Copilot, and Gemini seem to be carving out positions as situational tools people reach for when they need something specific, not as everyday companions. Grok and Claude prove that smaller platforms can still build intensely loyal user bases, prioritizing depth of engagement over raw user numbers.
⬤ These patterns matter because they're showing us how people actually choose and use AI tools as the technology moves from novelty to necessity. The emerging split between mass-adoption platforms and specialized niche apps will likely define how companies compete, what features they prioritize, and where investors place their bets moving forward. As the U.S. AI app market continues maturing, we're watching the landscape settle into a clearer, more predictable structure.
Sergey Diakov
