ChatGPT Faces a Wave of User Abandonment
On March 2, 2026, a sharp spike in ChatGPT app deletions was reported following the announcement of a partnership between OpenAI and the U.S. Department of Defense. According to data from the analytics platform Sensor Tower, deletions of the mobile application surged by 295% compared to standard daily figures. This development highlights the sensitivity of tech consumers to corporate partnerships with military and defense agencies. Meanwhile, rival company Anthropic and its chatbot Claude refused a similar collaboration, which led to an increase in their downloads and a decline in ChatGPT's metrics.
Shifting Dynamics in the AI Market
Throughout the previous month, ChatGPT's average user churn rate was 9%. In contrast, data from Appfigures shows Claude's downloads grew by 37% on Friday and 51% on Saturday. The Claude app topped the U.S. App Store, climbing more than 20 positions in a week. Downloads of ChatGPT, however, fell by 13% on Saturday and 5% on Sunday. For the first time, Claude's daily downloads in the United States surpassed those of OpenAI's product.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged a mistake regarding the Pentagon deal. Representatives from Anthropic explained their decision to refuse cooperation, stating:
“We did not agree to the terms of the deal due to concerns about the potential use of AI for citizen surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.” - Anthropic
It is noted that Claude's developer has been added to a U.S. government blacklist. These events signal significant shifts in the artificial intelligence market and the potential impact of political decisions on user behavior.
The surge in ChatGPT deletions and Claude's rising popularity underscore how corporate political alignments can directly influence consumer choices in the tech marketplace. Anthropic's refusal of the Pentagon deal may serve as an example of how ethical considerations are becoming a competitive differentiator among technology companies. Such situations could shape new trends in AI adoption, where safety and ethics play an increasingly vital role in user selection.