Data compiled by Woofun AI shows that ChatGPT's global market share retreated below the 50% threshold for the first time, settling at 46.4% by the end of May. Despite this decline, the platform maintains its position as the global leader with over 1.1 billion monthly active users. Competitors Google Gemini and Anthropic's Claude are closing the gap, capturing 27.7% and 10.3% of the market share respectively, backed by 662 million and 245 million MAU.

Concurrently, the broader AI industry is transitioning from pure user acquisition to commercial monetization as download and spending growth rates moderate. Global AI app downloads are projected to approach 2.3 billion in the first half of 2026, with total user spending expected to surpass $4.2 billion. Claude leads in subscription conversions at 13%, while ChatGPT has begun testing advertising integrations, reaching approximately 17% of daily active users with ads focused on software and retail sectors.