ChatGPT becomes fastest-growing consumer app in history

OpenAI's viral chatbot has reached a milestone of 100 million users in just two months – faster than TikTok or Instagram.

ChatGPT has earned the distinction of being the fastest-growing consumer app in history, Reuters reported based on analysis from UBS, an investment bank.

The advanced conversational chatbot reached 100 million monthly active users in January, just two months after launch – a feat that took TikTok nine months and Instagram two and a half years to achieve.

"In 20 years following the internet space, we cannot recall a faster ramp in a consumer internet app," UBS analysts wrote in the note quoted by Reuters.

Based on data from analytics firm Similarweb, UBS analysts said that 13 million unique visitors used ChatGPT daily in January, more than double the number in December.

As ChatGPT continues to demonstrate unprecedented growth rates, OpenAI has announced it would launch a pilot subscription plan for the chatbot. Called ChatGPT Plus, it will cost users $20 per month.

Subscribers will be able to use ChatGPT in peak hours, enjoy faster response times, and will get priority access to new features and improvements.

"We will begin the process of inviting people from our waitlist over the coming weeks," OpenAI said in a statement.

ChatGPT is launching to customers in the US first, with plans to expand to other countries and regions later. OpenAI said the subscription plan would allow it to continue to support free access to "as many people as possible."

It also said that it would improve ChatGPT Plus based on user feedback and is "actively exploring options for lower-cost plans, business plans, and data packs for more availability."

OpenAI, a private company backed by Microsoft, released ChatGPT for the public to use for free in late November.