By Yasin Gungor
ISTANBUL (AA) - ChatGPT, OpenAI's groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot, marks its second anniversary on Saturday, with the tool becoming a global phenomenon, transforming industries and redefining how AI integrates into daily life and workspaces.
Launched on Nov. 30, 2022, ChatGPT quickly rose to prominence, reaching 1 million users within five days and surpassing 100 million in just two months --a milestone that outpaced the growth of other major tech platforms.
As of October 2024, ChatGPT had more than 180 million active users and recorded over 4 billion monthly website visits in the last month, placing it among the top 10 most-visited websites globally according to Semrush, a company tracking websites.
The tool’s influence extends worldwide, with the US accounting for 14% of users, followed by India at 8% and then Kenya and Brazil, according to Semrush.
On the other hand, survey data from Boston Consulting Group on September 2024 shows 45% of Indians reporting the use of ChatGPT, followed by Morocco and the United Arab Emirates with 38% and 34% respectively.
Meanwhile, data from web analytics tool Similarweb highlights its diverse audience: 54.66% male and 45.34% female, with 25-34-year-olds forming almost one-third of the user base followed by the 18-24 group.
Education and professional fields have embraced ChatGPT and similar AI tools.
Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index revealed that 75% of global knowledge workers now use generative AI, while a GovTech survey reported that 58% of students relied on such tools during the 2022-23 academic year.
In addition, LinkedIn witnessed a 142-fold increase in AI-related skills added to profiles in 2024. Lastly, ChatGPT was also recognized as the most widely used AI tool in 2024 by developers.
- Technology behind ChatGPT
ChatGPT operates using OpenAI's Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) framework, a type of large language model (LLM) designed for natural language processing. These models analyze massive datasets to generate human-like responses through supervised and reinforcement learning, including refinement based on human feedback.
However, the technology they used to train the chatbot has faced criticism.
Ethical concerns include Time magazine's reporting of outsourced Kenyan workers earning less than $2 per hour to label harmful content during development.
Additionally, copyright infringement and dataset bias remain contentious. The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft in December 2023, alleging unauthorized use of its articles in chatbot training.
- ChatGPT’s evolution
Since its launch, ChatGPT has undergone rapid development, enhancing user experience and expanding functionality. Initially powered by GPT-3.5, the chatbot debuted as a free research preview.
By February 2023, OpenAI introduced a subscription-based model, offering premium features such as extended usage and advanced tools.
In March 2023, OpenAI unveiled GPT-4 for its ChatGPT Plus subscribers. This version offered significant upgrades, including real-time web searches and computational functions.
In May 2024, GPT-4o debuted with multimodal capabilities, processing text, images, audio and video. Its faster, budget-friendly counterpart, GPT-4o Mini, launched in July 2024, replacing GPT-3.5.
September 2024 saw the introduction of the experimental o1 and o1-mini models, promising enhanced speed and scalability.
To improve accessibility, OpenAI also introduced mobile apps for iOS in May 2023 and Android in July 2023, further broadening its user base.
- Ownership, key figures
ChatGPT is the flagship product of OpenAI, an AI research organization founded in December 2015.
OpenAI operates under a dual-entity structure, the nonprofit OpenAI, Inc. and its for-profit subsidiary, OpenAI Global, LLC.
Microsoft has been a key partner since 2019, investing $13 billion and holding approximately 49% equity. Additionally, its Azure platform provides critical infrastructure for ChatGPT's operations.
OpenAI’s leadership includes CEO Sam Altman, who co-founded the company alongside Elon Musk, Greg Brockman and others. Musk left the board in 2018, and Altman’s position was briefly jeopardized in November 2023 due to a board dispute, but he was reinstated after negotiations restructured OpenAI's governance.
OpenAI's valuation has surged to $157 billion, cementing its dominance in the AI sector.
- Competition, industry impact
ChatGPT’s success has spurred a wave of competition, with AI products such as Gemini, Claude, Llama, Ernie and Grok entering the market. Microsoft integrated OpenAI's technology into its Copilot AI-powered digital assistant, initially based on GPT-4.
OpenAI's API, made available to developers in March 2023, has fueled the creation of numerous AI tools across industries, cementing ChatGPT’s role as a foundational technology. As of January 2024, 92% of Fortune 500 companies were reportedly building products using OpenAI technologies, the company said.
- Global phenomenon
The adoption of ChatGPT reflects a growing reliance on AI tools in education, business and personal use. From coding and content creation to customer service and research, ChatGPT has reshaped how individuals and organizations approach problem-solving.
As the AI boom continues, ChatGPT remains at the forefront while navigating ethical and legal challenges. Its second anniversary highlights not only its achievements but also its ongoing influence on the future of artificial intelligence.