OpenAI hit 300 million weekly active users by late 2024, cementing ChatGPT’s explosive growth since its November 2022 launch. The AI chatbot now handles 2.5 billion prompts daily — more than double from eight months ago.
2024 was jam-packed: GPT-4o introduced voice features, Apple partnered on generative AI with Apple Intelligence, and OpenAI rolled out its text-to-video model, Sora. But it wasn’t all smooth. Co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever and CTO Mira Murati left amid internal drama. OpenAI also faced lawsuits from Alden Global Capital-owned newspapers over copyright. Elon Musk tried to block OpenAI shifting to for-profit.
2025 brought fresh challenges. OpenAI is under pressure as Chinese rival DeepSeek catches up. The company’s working its ties in Washington and pushing huge data center builds. It’s reportedly prepping one of the largest funding rounds ever. 
Recent product moves include the July 2025 launch of Study Mode, which nudges students to think critically rather than just get answers. OpenAI also delayed its open AI model rollout again for more safety testing.
The company is set to launch an AI browser in weeks, aiming to compete with Google Chrome by keeping users inside ChatGPT for web interactions.
OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT Agent, an AI assistant that can handle tasks end-to-end — managing calendars, drafting slides, running code, shopping, and more. It’s live for Free to Team users.
Concerns grow over AI therapy bots. Stanford researchers warn of risks like stigma and harmful responses. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman cautioned users that ChatGPT therapy isn’t confidential like with human doctors.
OpenAI has started using Google’s AI chips alongside Nvidia’s. And an MIT study found ChatGPT users may show diminished critical thinking during writing tasks.
The ChatGPT app hit 30 million downloads in one month. Altman says an average ChatGPT query uses about 0.34 watt-hours — enough to power a lightbulb for a few minutes, less than earlier estimates.
On the business side, new features link ChatGPT to Google Drive, Box, and GitHub for deeper research. OpenAI CFO says hardware acquisitions like Jony Ive’s io startup will scale ChatGPT’s reach.
OpenAI plans to expand data residency for ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu users in Asia, assuring local data sovereignty.
OpenAI is also building tools to create AI agents for customers, with rumored prices up to $20,000 a month for specialized “PhD-level” agents. The company lost $5 billion last year, highlighting its need for big revenue streams.
Technical updates: GPT-4.1 focusing on coding is live, o3-pro model launched, and voice chat improved for natural conversations.
OpenAI’s social media platform is reportedly in early development to challenge X and Instagram.
Sam Altman warned ChatGPT users recently:
“ChatGPT therapy isn’t confidential”
Altman spoke on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von. He urged caution using AI for emotional support.
OpenAI announced it will delay its open AI model launch for additional safety. CEO Sam Altman tweeted:
“we planned to launch our open-weight model next week.
we are delaying it; we need time to run additional safety tests and review high-risk areas. we are not yet sure how long it will take us.”
AI licensing issues persist. OpenAI dropped restrictions on image generation, allowing controversial content requests — sparking debates about copyright and misinformation.
The company now tracks and remembers user conversations for personalized responses, though this is limited by regional privacy laws.
OpenAI faces ongoing privacy complaints in Europe over defamatory hallucinations.
Despite setbacks, ChatGPT usage keeps surging. It doubled weekly active users from 200 million to 400 million between August 2024 and February 2025. Paid Pro plans now include expanded features and pricing adjustments.
The AI race is heating up. OpenAI faces tough competition and legal scrutiny while pushing aggressive product and infrastructure growth.
More on ChatGPT updates and controversies:
- ChatGPT now schedules reminders and recurring tasks.
- Code editing direct in VS Code, Xcode, JetBrains.
- New “Study Together” feature tests multi-user study sessions.
- OpenAI’s AI voice assistant upgraded for real-time, natural chat.
- ChatGPT connects with GitHub beta for code inquiries.
- OpenAI rolls out data residency in Asia to meet local compliance.
- Multiple AI therapy risks flagged by Stanford study.
- OpenAI targets GPT-5 next with merged tech including o3.
This story is continuously updated with the latest OpenAI and ChatGPT news.
