OpenAI hits 1 billion weekly users, seven months late
July 29, 2026 – 6:10 pm
Image by: OpenAI
ChatGPT is on the verge of achieving 1 billion weekly active users—a milestone it was initially projected to reach by the end of last year. This delay, however minor, marks the first time the leading consumer AI company has fallen short of its own forecasts.
A rapid ascent
The chatbot’s user base has grown exponentially since February 2025, when it had approximately 400 million weekly users. By October, Sam Altman estimated the figure to be around 800 million, and in February 2026, it surpassed 900 million. In June, ChatGPT became the fastest app ever to reach a billion monthly users.
Missing its own targets
Despite its impressive growth, OpenAI has missed its self-set target by seven months. This is a notable shift, indicating that even with its significant lead in consumer AI, the company is facing challenges in sustaining exponential growth at this scale.
Competition from Google’s Gemini and various Chinese models is intensifying, causing rivals to catch up faster than expected. While OpenAI still maintains its first-place position, it must now defend its lead rather than expand it.
The significance of user count
The number of weekly users is not merely a marketing tool but also a critical factor in shaping OpenAI’s path to an IPO. It reinforces the argument that consumer attention, driven by user engagement and satisfaction, will be the primary revenue driver for the company, rather than solely enterprise contracts.
Despite missing its target, Gary Marcus and other skeptics argue that achieving 1 billion weekly users is a significant feat, even if it took longer than anticipated.