New Study Reveals ChatGPT Leads in AI Adoption Among U.S. Consumers
SAN FRANCISCO – A recently released study examining American utilization of artificial intelligence systems indicates that OpenAI’s ChatGPT has emerged as a frontrunner in the competitive landscape of Silicon Valley’s tech giants, at least through mid-2025. The research, which surveyed 1,151 U.S. adults regarding their AI usage, found that nearly one-third qualify as “heavy users,” incorporating these tools into their daily routines. Researchers observed that AI has transitioned from a mere novelty to an essential utility for a significant portion of the population.
The study highlights a vigorous race among technology companies – including Google, Meta, and OpenAI – vying for dominance in AI development. ChatGPT holds a distinct advantage, attracting approximately twice as many users compared to rivals such as Google Gemini, Meta AI on Facebook, and Google’s AI Overviews. OpenAI, headquartered in San Francisco, was founded a decade ago by Sam Altman and Elon Musk.
Notably, the research suggests that AI technologies developed by Apple and Amazon have not achieved anticipated market penetration. A striking finding revealed ChatGPT’s popularity as an information resource, surpassing Google Search among internet users surveyed; 27.54% favored ChatGPT compared to Google Search’s 26.24%. A similar trend was observed for product discovery, with 26.32% of respondents preferring ChatGPT over conventional search methods versus Google Search’s 23.11%.
“The unexpected performance of ChatGPT in facilitating product discovery underscores consumers’ growing appreciation for conversational AI in the shopping process,” noted a researcher involved in the study. “This has potentially profound implications for e-commerce strategies.”
On Thursday, OpenAI unveiled its fifth generation of AI technology, powering ChatGPT, an event keenly observed as an indicator of generative AI’s continued progress or potential stagnation. This release follows the 2023 launch of GPT-4 and represents a significant interval in advancements. OpenAI’s leadership has framed these innovations as steps toward achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), a theoretical technology capable of exceeding human capabilities in economically valuable tasks. Sam Altman characterized the latest model as “a significant step along our path to AGI,” while emphasizing its accessibility for the roughly 700 million weekly users of ChatGPT.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
