OpenAI hits 300 million weekly users, eyes 1 billion active users as it leads the generative AI race
Nickie Louise
Posted On December 4, 2024
OpenAI has reached a major milestone, reporting 300 million weekly active users for ChatGPT. In a post shared on X, the company revealed: “300M weekly active ChatGPT users 1B user messages sent on ChatGPT every day.” This announcement follows a period of executive changes, tender offers, and a soaring company valuation.
“Fresh numbers shared by @sama earlier today: 300M weekly active ChatGPT users. 1B user messages sent on ChatGPT every day. 1.3M devs have built on OpenAI in the US,” OpenAI said in a post on X.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared the figures during The New York Times’ DealBook Summit. Just last week, the company reported that its weekly active users were still at 250 million, showing a rapid uptick in engagement.
The company has ambitious goals, setting its sights on reaching 1 billion active users within the next year. This growth strategy positions OpenAI to compete with rivals like Anthropic, backed by Amazon, and xAI, led by Elon Musk—described by Altman as a “fierce competitor.” OpenAI also faces pressure from established giants such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon as they vie for dominance in the growing generative AI market, projected to surpass $1 trillion in revenue over the next decade.
To fuel this growth, OpenAI recently brought on its first chief marketing officer, Kate Rouch, formerly of Coinbase. This move signals a greater focus on marketing efforts to expand its user base. In October, the company introduced a search feature within ChatGPT, positioning it to compete more directly with search platforms like Google, Microsoft’s Bing, and Perplexity.
During his DealBook appearance, Altman addressed rumors about investor restrictions, clarifying that while OpenAI doesn’t prohibit investments in competitors, those who do won’t have access to OpenAI’s “information rights,” such as the company’s roadmap and internal materials, CNBC reported.
Since launching ChatGPT two years ago, OpenAI’s valuation has skyrocketed to $157 billion. The company has raised $13 billion, including a significant investment from Microsoft. Last month, it closed a $6.6 billion funding round and secured a $4 billion revolving credit line. OpenAI has also opened a new tender offer, allowing employees to sell up to $1.5 billion in shares to SoftBank.
With bold expansion plans and growing competition, OpenAI continues to solidify its position as a leader in the generative AI space.
Founded in 2015 by Sam Altman and Elon Musk, OpenAI started as a non-profit research institution aimed to pave the way for safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence (AGI). However, in 2020, it transitioned into a commercial entity, marking a significant shift in its trajectory. Despite internal disruptions in November, including Altman’s temporary departure and subsequent return, the company remains at the forefront of the burgeoning AI market, spurred by the successful launch of ChatGPT in 2022.
OpenAI CEO: Sam Altman
