OpenAI's ChatGPT had been the undisputed leader among AI chatbots since its inception. However, it took just one bad decision for the proverbial throne to become vacant. At that very moment, Anthropic's Claude shot from 42nd place straight to the top of the US App Store, literally overnight. But what actually led to this?
A Rushed Deal with the Pentagon
At the end of February 2026, a major dispute erupted between technology companies and the US government over who would supply artificial intelligence to the military. While some saw it as an opportunity, Anthropic refused to sign a contract with the Pentagon. It objected to Claude AI models being used for surveillance of US citizens or to control fully autonomous weapons and refused to agree to “any lawful use” of its AI.
Because of this decision, Anthropic was designated a security risk, and President Trump subsequently banned the use of this AI across all federal agencies. However, OpenAI decided to take advantage of the situation and very quickly announced its own agreement with the Department of Defense. And that is precisely what discouraged many users. OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, rushed into the partnership without properly explaining to the public what it had actually agreed to.
ChatGPT Uninstalls Surged by 295%
Users therefore reacted immediately. According to information reported by the online publication TechCrunch, uninstalls of the ChatGPT app in the US surged by 295% on February 28, the day after the deal was signed. Until then, the normal uninstall rate had been around 9%. This sent an important message to the world of artificial intelligence: users care about who their favorite AI collaborates with.
The negative sentiment was also reflected in ChatGPT's App Store ratings. One-star reviews of ChatGPT rose by 775% on Saturday, while five-star ratings fell by half over the same period.
Anthropic's Claude Is the New Number One
While the end of February brought a massive decline for OpenAI, Anthropic and its Claude AI experienced significant growth. On Saturday, daily downloads of Claude in the US surpassed ChatGPT downloads for the first time ever, sending Claude soaring to the top spot in the US App Store, where it has remained since Saturday, February 28.
Features and Capabilities Are Not Enough
Although it may have seemed that people choose AI based on its capabilities and features, that is not entirely true. This event revealed that the values of individual companies are equally important to them. Hundreds of thousands of uninstalls in a single weekend clearly demonstrate this.
The seriousness of the situation also appears to have sunk in for Sam Altman himself. On Monday, he acknowledged that the entire process had been highly opaque and rushed and announced further changes to the agreement with the Pentagon. According to him, these should better define the boundaries for the use of AI and prevent the surveillance of citizens.
Source: Tech Crunch, BBC, CNBC, CNN, Tech Crunch
