The artificial intelligence (AI) boom shows no signs of slowing down, especially when it comes to consumer spending on AI-powered apps. According to app analytics firm Appfigures, spending on AI applications skyrocketed to an impressive $1.42 billion in 2024—a staggering 274% increase from the previous year. At the forefront of this surge is OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has cemented itself as the dominant force in the AI assistant landscape.
Despite the rise of thousands of competing apps, including those leveraging OpenAI’s own technology, ChatGPT continues to command the lion’s share of revenue, consistently outperforming its rivals. The financial windfall is not just benefiting OpenAI but also tech giants Apple and Google, which take a 30% cut of in-app purchases, further fueling the mobile AI economy that now stands at an estimated $2 billion.
A Youth-Driven AI Revolution—But Not Exclusively
With 353 million downloads to date, ChatGPT’s reach is undeniably vast, but its user base reveals intriguing demographic trends. Notably, over half of ChatGPT’s mobile users are under the age of 25, signaling that younger generations are not only more open to adopting AI-driven solutions but are also actively integrating them into their daily lives. Whether for personal productivity, creative projects, or, as Pew Research suggests, homework assistance (a quarter of U.S. teens report using ChatGPT for schoolwork), young people have embraced AI technology at an astonishing rate.
Interestingly, however, the second-largest age group using ChatGPT consists of individuals aged 50 to 64, who make up 20.2% of users. This suggests that AI’s appeal extends beyond just digital natives. Older users may be leveraging AI for work-related tasks, personal learning, or simply exploring new technological frontiers.
A Stark Gender Imbalance: Why Are ChatGPT’s Users 85% Male?
Perhaps the most striking demographic statistic is the overwhelming gender disparity. Appfigures estimates that men make up 84.5% of all ChatGPT mobile users. This raises a crucial question: why are women so significantly underrepresented in AI app adoption?
One possible explanation lies in broader attitudes toward AI technology. A 2022 Pew Research report found that women tend to be more skeptical about artificial intelligence than men. Further reinforcing this notion, an Axios poll revealed that 53% of surveyed women would not allow their children to use AI at all, compared to just 26% of men. Such concerns may contribute to lower adoption rates among women, who may be more cautious about engaging with AI-powered tools.
The Risks and Challenges of AI for Women
Beyond skepticism, women may also be less enthusiastic about the widespread adoption of AI due to its more harmful implications. AI-generated deepfake technology has disproportionately targeted women, with a growing surge of sexually explicit deepfake content posing a significant threat to privacy and security. This darker side of AI has made headlines, further fueling mistrust and deterring female users from engaging with AI platforms.
Additionally, AI-driven automation is expected to impact the job market unevenly, with research from McKinsey suggesting that women are more likely to lose their jobs to automation than their male counterparts. This economic uncertainty could contribute to further hesitance in embracing AI-driven tools that may be perceived as enablers of workforce displacement.
Competition on the Horizon: Could DeepSeek Challenge ChatGPT’s Reign?
Despite ChatGPT’s dominance, the AI landscape is constantly evolving, and new challengers are emerging. One such competitor is DeepSeek, a free, open-source alternative to OpenAI’s model. The Chinese AI-powered app recently surged to the top of the App Store charts, momentarily dethroning ChatGPT in popularity. However, maintaining momentum in the competitive AI market is no small feat. While DeepSeek’s initial success is impressive, it remains to be seen whether it can sustain its growth and chip away at ChatGPT’s market share in the long run.
The Future of AI Adoption: What’s Next?
As AI technology continues to advance, so too will the conversation around its societal impact. The gender gap in AI adoption is a critical issue that demands attention, especially as AI plays an increasingly prominent role in workplaces, education, and personal productivity. Addressing safety concerns, ensuring ethical AI development, and fostering inclusive AI applications will be key factors in broadening AI’s appeal to all demographics.
ChatGPT’s market dominance is undeniable, but as new players emerge and user concerns evolve, the AI landscape is far from static. Whether future AI innovations can bridge the demographic divide—or whether ChatGPT will maintain its stronghold—remains an open question. One thing is certain: the AI revolution is only just beginning.
