AI Chatbots Users: Global Numbers of the Major Ones

AI chatbots are now a regular part of online life for hundreds of millions of people. Today, these digital assistants are growing in numbers but also spreading into more parts of the world, as companies compete with new features and regional releases.

ChatGPT: The Largest User Base by Far

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has a reach unmatched by any other chatbot at the moment. Daily active user counts have recently passed 122 million. On a weekly basis, the platform now sees about 800 million unique users. Although the most recent official figure for monthly active users was 180 million (from early 2024), the current pace suggests the real number is even higher in mid-2025, though OpenAI hasn’t published a newer total. Paying subscribers also continue to grow, with over 15.5 million ChatGPT Plus accounts reported in May.

OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, said at TED 2025 that about one in ten people worldwide have used ChatGPT at least once. Web analytics consistently show ChatGPT making up about 60% of all AI chatbot and search use. It’s available in more than 95 countries and supports over 50 languages, further cementing its global presence.

Google Gemini: Gaining Ground Around the World

Gemini (previously called Bard) is Google’s main response to ChatGPT. The chatbot reached a high of 284 million visits in February 2025. The average monthly visit count in 2024 was about 143 million. In April 2025, Gemini saw 67 million unique visitors.

Google’s chatbot supports 46 languages and is accessible in 239 countries and regions. Industry forecasts suggesting Gemini could top one billion users by the end of the year are just that—forecasts—not backed by user data at this point. Still, Gemini’s usage numbers have been steadily rising as Google pushes updates and adds new features.

Baidu Ernie Bot: Leading China’s Market

In China, Baidu’s Ernie Bot is the main local player. Official data from early 2025 lists about 13 million monthly active users. Some reports mention “300 million sign-ups,” but that’s the cumulative account total, not a measure of how many people use it every month. Baidu continues to update Ernie Bot regularly, keeping it ahead in the Chinese market, but its global presence is limited.

Grok (xAI): Growing Among X Premium Users

Grok, developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, is only available through X (formerly Twitter) for paying users. By mid-2025, Grok reached 35 million monthly active users, with 1.27 million unique visitors daily and about 6.7 million daily active users on average. While the platform is tied to X Premium, it has seen steady adoption among subscribers, especially after launching new features earlier this year.

DeepSeek: Fast Growth for an Open-Source Model

DeepSeek, an open-source chatbot out of China, launched in January 2025 and quickly climbed app store charts. It became the most downloaded free iOS app in the U.S. at launch, and now records over 96 million monthly active users. Its open nature has sparked discussion on privacy and security, especially as it spreads internationally.

Nearly a Billion Regular Users Worldwide

The AI chatbot sector is now estimated to have just under 1 billion users globally. Analysts value the market at about $15.6 billion in 2025, with the total expected to grow rapidly over the next few years. ChatGPT still leads by a wide margin, but competitors like Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, and Baidu Ernie are all picking up users—each with its own approach and strengths.

User Numbers at a Glance (2025)

Chatbot	Daily Active Users (DAU)	Monthly Active Users (MAU)	Paying Subscribers	Main Markets
ChatGPT	~122 million	>180 million*	15.5 million Plus	Global (95+ countries, 50+ languages)
Gemini	n/a	67 million (April UV)	n/a	Global (239 regions, 46 languages)
Ernie Bot	n/a	13 million	n/a	China only
Grok	6.7 million	35.1 million	X Premium only	Global (X Premium)
DeepSeek	n/a	96.9 million	n/a	Global (expanding fast)

*ChatGPT’s latest monthly figure is from 2024, but weekly and daily data suggest the current number is higher.

What Stands Out Right Now

• ChatGPT remains the clear leader, both in active users and paid accounts.

• Google Gemini is closing the gap, especially with its wide language and country support.

• Baidu Ernie Bot has a smaller active-user count than its total sign-ups suggest, but remains the top chatbot in China.

• Grok is growing steadily, driven by the X platform’s paying user base.

• DeepSeek shows how quickly new, open-source chatbots can gain traction.

Regional Trends and Global Patterns

While the largest chatbots all boast international user bases, their dominance varies sharply by region. In North America and much of Europe, ChatGPT and Gemini are the primary options, often integrated with major browsers, productivity tools, and educational platforms. In contrast, China’s unique digital ecosystem means that Baidu’s Ernie Bot is the default AI assistant for hundreds of millions, thanks to tight integration with domestic search, social media, and commerce apps. Elsewhere, local language support and regulatory requirements have created opportunities for new players—especially open-source chatbots like DeepSeek, which appeal to regions with strong privacy laws or skepticism about US-based tech giants.

Language and Localization as Key Drivers

One reason for Gemini’s rapid growth and the broad adoption of DeepSeek is the emphasis on language and localization. Users prefer chatbots that can understand, respond, and provide information in their own language, including support for regional dialects and cultural nuances. As more AI chatbots invest in comprehensive translation and localization, the barriers to adoption drop significantly, leading to new waves of growth in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Changing User Expectations and Emerging Use Cases

Shifting Beyond Text: Multimodal Capabilities

The leading chatbots are no longer limited to just text conversations. Both ChatGPT and Gemini are expanding into “multimodal” experiences—where users can interact via voice, images, and even video. This makes them more versatile and appealing for tasks like language learning, document summarization, content creation, and even real-time transcription during meetings. As users grow accustomed to these richer interfaces, they are increasingly expecting AI chatbots to offer seamless, cross-platform support and to handle a wider range of queries in a natural, human-like manner.

From General to Specialized AI Assistants

Another important trend is the move toward specialized chatbots and assistants. While the major platforms aim for broad appeal, there is growing demand for domain-specific bots—such as those focused on legal advice, healthcare information, or creative writing. Open-source models like DeepSeek make it easier for developers to build these targeted solutions, while platforms like Grok show that there is room for AI tailored to particular social or interest-based communities.

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