According to a recent analysis by market intelligence firm Similarweb, Character.ai, the AI app maker that allows users to design their own AI characters, is gaining ground on ChatGPT in terms of mobile app usage. The data shows that Character.ai’s iOS and Android apps now have 4.2 million monthly active users in the U.S., compared to nearly 6 million for ChatGPT’s mobile apps.
Notable Growth Following May Launch
Character.ai’s growth is particularly notable, given its relatively recent launch in May 2023. At that time, the startup shared that it had topped 1.7 million installs in its first week. However, as we know, installs don’t necessarily translate to active users. In fact, the average mobile app has a 30-day retention rate of only 3% to 4%, with uninstall rates above 40% after 30 days, according to data from mobile marketing firm Appsflyer.
Character.ai’s Retention Rate
Despite these challenges, Character.ai appears to have successfully retained some of its early adopters and grown its usage in the months since its debut. This is a testament to the app’s engaging nature and the creativity it offers users in designing their own AI characters.
Web Usage: ChatGPT Still Ahead
While Character.ai is catching up with ChatGPT on mobile, the conversational AI platform still leads in web usage. This is likely due in part to the fact that many of Character.ai’s users prefer to build and interact with their AI chatbots on their personal mobile device rather than through a website.
Global Mobile App Usage: ChatGPT Still Leads
The global picture also shows ChatGPT leading Character.ai in mobile app usage, with 22.5 million monthly active users compared to 5.27 million for Character.ai. However, it’s worth noting that these numbers are still relatively high, indicating a strong interest in AI apps among users.
Demographic Breakdown: Younger Users Flock to Character.ai
One area where Character.ai stands out is its ability to attract a younger demographic. According to Similarweb’s data, 60% of Character.ai’s web traffic comes from users aged 18-34, compared to only 46% for ChatGPT. This suggests that Character.ai may be particularly appealing to young people who are looking for creative and engaging AI experiences.
Will Character.ai Continue to Grow?
It remains to be seen whether Character.ai will continue to grow and eventually surpass ChatGPT in mobile app usage. The company hasn’t responded to a request for comment on Similarweb’s data, but we’ll update if one is provided.
Conclusion
Character.ai’s growth in mobile app usage is an exciting development in the AI space. While it still lags behind ChatGPT in terms of web usage and global mobile app adoption, its ability to attract younger users and offer a unique creative experience sets it apart from other AI apps. As the market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Character.ai and ChatGPT compete for user attention.
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