U.S. users removed the ChatGPT mobile app at sharply higher rates after reports that OpenAI had reached a partnership agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), according to new data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. ChatGPT uninstalls surged by 295% day over day on February 28, far above the app’s typical daily uninstall rate of about 9% over the previous month.
The data suggests a swift consumer reaction in the United States following the news of the defense-related deal. Analysts say the shift also coincided with changes in download patterns and user reviews for both ChatGPT and rival artificial intelligence apps.
Downloads and reviews shift after announcement
Sensor Tower reported that ChatGPT’s U.S. downloads declined shortly after the news became public. Downloads fell 13% day over day on February 28 and dropped another 5% the following day. Just a day earlier, before the partnership announcement, downloads had risen 14% compared with the previous day.
User feedback also changed rapidly. One-star reviews of the ChatGPT app increased by 775% on February 28 and doubled again the following day, according to Sensor Tower. At the same time, five-star reviews dropped by around 50%.
Rival AI app Claude gains traction
During the same period, downloads for Anthropic’s AI assistant Claude rose in the United States. Sensor Tower said Claude’s downloads increased 37% day over day on February 27 and 51% on February 28.
Anthropic had earlier stated it would not partner with the U.S. defense department after failing to reach agreement on the terms of a potential deal. The company cited concerns about the potential use of artificial intelligence for domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapon systems.
App analytics firm Appfigures reported similar trends. According to its estimates, Claude’s daily U.S. downloads rose by 88% on February 28 and exceeded those of ChatGPT for the first time.
Claude also climbed rapidly in app store rankings. The AI assistant reached the No. 1 position on the U.S. App Store on February 28 and remained there as of March 2. The app is also ranked as the top free iPhone app in several countries outside the United States, including Belgium, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, and Switzerland.
Broader download trends
Another analytics company, Similarweb, reported that Claude’s weekly downloads in the United States were about 20 times higher than its levels in January. However, the firm noted that the surge may reflect multiple factors and not solely public reaction to the defense partnership reports.
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Market intelligence firms said the shifts highlight how announcements involving artificial intelligence companies and government partnerships can quickly influence user behavior, including app downloads, uninstall rates, and online reviews.
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