ChatGPT Uninstalls Jump 295% in US After DoD Deal, Claude Booms

The week turned turbulent for OpenAI after news of its partnership with the US Department of Defense, stirring strong reactions among users. On Saturday, US uninstalls of the ChatGPT mobile app surged 295% compared with the previous day, a sharp jump from the prior month’s typical day-over-day rate around 9%. Public sentiment leaned against the defense tie, and many users began exploring alternatives.

Anthropic's Claude benefited from the controversy, with downloads rising 37% on February 27 and an additional 51% the following day. The app climbed to the No. 1 spot on the US App Store's free charts on Saturday, and gained traction in several other countries as well.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said the company declined a potential defense department deal, citing ethical concerns about how AI could be used for surveillance and autonomous weaponry. The stance resonated with many consumers and helped Claude gain mainstream attention.

OpenAI faced mounting scrutiny from policymakers and users who question how AI should be regulated when used in defense contexts. While the market remains volatile, the rapid swing in app downloads shows how quickly sentiment can shift in the AI race.

As developers race to address safety and ethics, the competition between OpenAI and Anthropic underscores a broader debate about responsible AI and who controls its deployment in sensitive areas like national security.

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