ChatGPT’s website traffic is down by 10 per cent from last month. However, OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT are not worried at all. This is because their core paying customers, still use their API and their LLM, the GPT-4
OpenAI’s highly popular ChatGPT has experienced a decline in user numbers for the first time since its launch, The Washington Post has reported. This development raises the possibility that the AI chatbot’s popularity may have reached its peak.
According to Similarweb, an internet data firm, both mobile and desktop traffic to the AI chatbot’s website dropped by nearly ten per cent in June compared to the previous month. This decline may on the surface, look concerning for OpenAI, considering the significant investment the company has made to maintain and operate the AI chatbot.
It is worth noting that ChatGPT had gained significant attention earlier this year for its rapid growth, being hailed as the fastest-growing application. It was estimated to have reached around 100 million active monthly users within a mere two months. However, since then, Meta’s Threads has surpassed this record, amassing 100 million users in just five days.
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The current decline in user numbers begs the question of whether this is an indication of future trends or simply a temporary setback. Has the public’s fascination with AI already reached its peak, or are the ongoing issues and limitations of the technology becoming more apparent and affecting its popularity? Further analysis and observation will be necessary to determine the long-term trajectory of AI’s public reception.
Why OpenAI isn’t worried
OpenAI makes very little money from the free version of ChatGPT, and this was what most people were using. OpenAI makes some money from people who have subscribed to ChatGPT Plus. Even though this number too has fallen, engineers at OpenAI had anticipated this.
ChatGPT makes the bulk of its money from its APIs and plugins that it sells to businesses. Businesses, having seen what GPT-4 and GPT3.5 are capable of are ready to pay through their nose for OpenAI’s plugins. And, the plugins are a regular source of income that brings a monthly revenue.
Basically, ChatGPT makes money when paying customers, be it private users or paying businesses, access its LLM, or large language model, GPT-4. As long as people are accessing that, OpenAI has no reason to worry. But there’s a catch.
ChatGPT still as popular as ever
It is true that ChatGPT has faced various issues, such as providing incorrect answers and implementing certain subject restrictions. These challenges, along with the emergence of alternative tools and the diminishing novelty factor, may contribute to the decrease in user numbers as the school year concludes.
However, it is important to recognize that the ability to generate content using artificial intelligence is just one aspect of the broader impact AI can have. Artificial intelligence has the potential to be applied across numerous domains where intelligence is currently utilized, making it a significant and enduring concept.
The decline in usage of ChatGPT should not be seen as a definitive reflection of the future of artificial intelligence. The development of new technologies takes time, and it is crucial to remain steadfast and committed to the ongoing progress in the field.
School Vacations partly to blame?
The Washington Post’s speculation that the decline in ChatGPT usage could be attributed to the end of the school year and reduced usage by college students during summer break seems plausible. Additionally, concerns about data security, such as Samsung’s reported prohibition on the use of AI chatbots by employees, may contribute to the decrease in user numbers.
It is understandable that OpenAI may not be overly concerned about the decline in usage of the public version of ChatGPT. There could be various reasons for this, such as a focus on refining the technology, addressing limitations, or potentially transitioning to other platforms or target markets. It is important to note that OpenAI continues to make advancements and develop new versions of its AI models.
