OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the highly popular artificial intelligence chatbot that took the internet by storm upon its launch in November, has witnessed a continuous decline in monthly website visits, as reported by analytics firm Similarweb. In August, worldwide desktop and mobile visits to the ChatGPT website dropped by 3.2%, settling at 1.43 billion visits. This decline follows approximately 10% drops in traffic from each of the previous two months, indicating a concerning trend for the AI giant.
Not only has ChatGPT seen a drop in monthly website visits, but the amount of time visitors spend on the website has also steadily declined since March. The average time spent on the site decreased from 8.7 minutes in March to just 7 minutes in August. These metrics suggest a potential waning interest in the platform, raising questions about the sustainability of ChatGPT’s popularity.
Amidst the downward trend, there is a glimmer of hope as August saw an uptick in worldwide unique visitors, reaching 180.5 million users compared to 180 million in the previous month. This slight increase in unique visitors could indicate that ChatGPT’s appeal remains intact for new users, even as existing users spend less time on the platform.
The upcoming return of students to school in September may provide a much-needed boost to ChatGPT’s traffic and usage. Some educational institutions have begun embracing ChatGPT, especially as a resource for students seeking homework assistance. David F. Carr of Similarweb, an expert in tracking ChatGPT and its competitors, noted, “The percentage of younger users of the website dropped over the summer and is now starting to bounce back.” This rebound in younger users could contribute to an increase in overall engagement.
ChatGPT made waves in the world of AI, rapidly amassing 100 million monthly active users by January, just two months after its initial launch. The generative AI technology behind ChatGPT leverages past data to create new content, making it a versatile tool for tasks such as writing essays and poems. Prior to the launch of Meta’s Threads, ChatGPT stood as the fastest-growing consumer application globally and currently ranks among the top 30 websites worldwide.
Despite its success, ChatGPT has faced competition from newcomers like Google’s Bard chatbot, which debuted this year. Additionally, Microsoft’s Bing search engine offers a chatbot powered by OpenAI for free, intensifying the competition in the AI chatbot space. OpenAI further expanded its reach by releasing the ChatGPT app on iOS in May, a move that could divert some traffic from its website.
While ChatGPT remains free to use, OpenAI generates revenue through various channels, including its premium subscription offering, priced at $20 per month. The company also monetizes its AI models by selling access to developers and enterprises directly, along with a strategic partnership with Microsoft, which invested over $10 billion into OpenAI.
As ChatGPT enters its fourth consecutive month of declining website traffic, there is growing optimism that the return of students to school may mark a turning point for the platform. The education sector’s embrace of ChatGPT as a valuable tool for students could help reignite interest and engagement in the platform. OpenAI remains committed to refining and expanding its AI offerings, ensuring that ChatGPT remains a formidable player in the world of AI-powered chatbots.
Source: Reuters
