Market research firm Sensor Tower announced the '2025 AI app status' report on the 25th. This report comprehensively analyzes the usage status of generative artificial intelligence (AI) apps, such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, user changes, strategies for acquiring new users, and how various apps respond to AI diffusion.
According to the report, global downloads of generative AI apps reached 1.7 billion in the first half of this year, and in-app purchase (IAP) revenue amounted to $1.9 billion. Both downloads and revenue saw significant increases compared to the previous period, with downloads increasing by 67%, marking the fastest growth rate since the first half of 2023. In-app purchase revenue also more than doubled compared to the second half of last year.
Usage time also surged. In the first half of this year, global users spent a total of 15.6 billion hours on generative AI apps, averaging about 86 million hours per day. During the same period, the number of sessions reached 426 billion, meaning the global population used AI apps an average of about 50 times.
Regionally, Asia, led by India and mainland China, emerged as the top region in downloads. From the second half of 2024 to the first half of this year, downloads increased by 80%, surpassing growth rates in Europe (51%) and North America (39%). In-app purchase revenue was highest in North America at $762 million, while ChatGPT ranked first in revenue in most markets, excluding mainland China.
ChatGPT accounted for 63% of the total revenue of generative AI apps in the first half of this year, with users averaging about 13 uses per month. This is similar to the levels seen with X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. Notably, the increase in weekend usage indicates a growing trend of being used as a search tool outside of work hours.
Additionally, as of June, more than 15% of ChatGPT users were found to be using both the mobile app and the web. This indicates a convenience that allows for seamless use across various devices, exceeding levels seen in emerging apps such as Temu and Threads.
ChatGPT's session count and usage time are also rapidly increasing. In the first half of this year, users had an average of 7.8 sessions, a 37% increase compared to last year, while the average daily usage time rose to 16 minutes, an increase of 58%. It is analyzed that the gap with search engines and browser apps is quickly narrowing.