ChatGPT has reached a new peak in global usage, now handling around 2.5 billion user prompts each day, according to OpenAI (via Axios). Out of that total, roughly 330 million are coming from users based in the United States.
This growth marks a significant leap from where things stood late last year. Back in December, OpenAI had reported about 1 billion daily queries. Since then, the number has more than doubled, pointing to a sharp rise in everyday reliance on conversational AI.
ChatGPT’s increasing role in online habits is beginning to shift attention away from traditional search engines. Although Google remains dominant in overall search traffic, usage patterns are starting to change. Based on data released by Alphabet, Google processes around five trillion searches each year. This breaks down to just under 14 billion searches per day. Other independent estimates fall in the same range, with some placing the figure at about 13.7 billion daily, while others go as high as 16.4 billion.
Even with that gap, ChatGPT’s rise has been unusually fast. The number of daily prompts it receives now rivals nearly a fifth of Google’s global search volume. Unlike traditional engines, however, this tool engages in full dialogue, which appeals to users looking for faster, more personalized responses.
Visitor numbers also point to strong momentum. As of mid-2025, ChatGPT draws an estimated 180 million individual visits per day, based on web traffic data compiled in recent months (based on Similarweb insights compiled by Digital Information World). In May alone, the site recorded approximately 4.6 billion total visits, placing it among the five most visited websites worldwide.
The user base reflects a similar pattern of expansion. OpenAI reports around 500 million active users each week. A large portion of those rely on the free version of the chatbot, although the platform also counts about 10 million paid subscribers. The tool currently holds more than 60 percent of the global market share for AI-powered platforms, according to industry research.
When ChatGPT launched, it took just three months to attract 100 million users. That early surge laid the foundation for its current scale. Today, many individuals have shifted away from using conventional search tools, turning instead to AI systems that offer quicker summaries, recommendations, or explanations.
Some industry analysts have noted that this shift is reshaping how people interact with the web as a whole. In particular, concerns are rising over what these tools might mean for online publishers, who depend on search-driven traffic. As more people turn to AI to answer their questions, the impact is already being felt across sectors that rely on web visibility.
OpenAI’s data offers a clear view of how quickly these tools are gaining ground. What began as a novel interface for simple queries has turned into a core utility for millions. Based on current usage patterns, this trend shows no signs of slowing.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.
Read next: Who Tops the List of the World’s Leading Research Universities?
This growth marks a significant leap from where things stood late last year. Back in December, OpenAI had reported about 1 billion daily queries. Since then, the number has more than doubled, pointing to a sharp rise in everyday reliance on conversational AI.
ChatGPT’s increasing role in online habits is beginning to shift attention away from traditional search engines. Although Google remains dominant in overall search traffic, usage patterns are starting to change. Based on data released by Alphabet, Google processes around five trillion searches each year. This breaks down to just under 14 billion searches per day. Other independent estimates fall in the same range, with some placing the figure at about 13.7 billion daily, while others go as high as 16.4 billion.
Even with that gap, ChatGPT’s rise has been unusually fast. The number of daily prompts it receives now rivals nearly a fifth of Google’s global search volume. Unlike traditional engines, however, this tool engages in full dialogue, which appeals to users looking for faster, more personalized responses.
Visitor numbers also point to strong momentum. As of mid-2025, ChatGPT draws an estimated 180 million individual visits per day, based on web traffic data compiled in recent months (based on Similarweb insights compiled by Digital Information World). In May alone, the site recorded approximately 4.6 billion total visits, placing it among the five most visited websites worldwide.
The user base reflects a similar pattern of expansion. OpenAI reports around 500 million active users each week. A large portion of those rely on the free version of the chatbot, although the platform also counts about 10 million paid subscribers. The tool currently holds more than 60 percent of the global market share for AI-powered platforms, according to industry research.
When ChatGPT launched, it took just three months to attract 100 million users. That early surge laid the foundation for its current scale. Today, many individuals have shifted away from using conventional search tools, turning instead to AI systems that offer quicker summaries, recommendations, or explanations.
Some industry analysts have noted that this shift is reshaping how people interact with the web as a whole. In particular, concerns are rising over what these tools might mean for online publishers, who depend on search-driven traffic. As more people turn to AI to answer their questions, the impact is already being felt across sectors that rely on web visibility.
OpenAI’s data offers a clear view of how quickly these tools are gaining ground. What began as a novel interface for simple queries has turned into a core utility for millions. Based on current usage patterns, this trend shows no signs of slowing.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.
Read next: Who Tops the List of the World’s Leading Research Universities?
