A strong shift toward artificial intelligence in mobile apps is becoming clear as OpenAI’s ChatGPT secures the position of the 2nd most downloaded app globally, according to the latest global mobile report from Sensor Tower.
The AI-powered chatbot recorded massive growth across Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. It has also emerged as the most downloaded artificial intelligence app of the year. The surge points to a broader change in how users are adopting AI-driven tools on their smartphones.
While ChatGPT climbed rapidly, TikTok continued to dominate global charts, ranking 1st in total downloads, in-app purchase revenue, and overall time spent by users.
The report highlights a sharp rise in the use of AI Assistants, which are now the 10th largest app category worldwide based on total time spent. This category posted a 426% year-on-year growth, making it one of the fastest-growing segments for downloads and in-app purchase revenue.
ChatGPT played a central role in this expansion. The app saw a 148% increase in downloads and a 254% jump in in-app purchase revenue, underscoring rising consumer willingness to pay for advanced AI features and subscriptions.
Growth was particularly strong in the US market. In Q4 2025, ChatGPT became the 9th most-used app among men, signalling that generative AI is moving beyond experimentation into daily use. Other AI apps such as Google Gemini, DeepSeek, Doubao, Perplexity, Grok, Meta AI, and Microsoft Copilot also benefited from this trend.
Even apps not originally built around AI, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, appeared in AI download rankings due to the addition of generative features.
Sensor Tower’s long-term data, tracking trends since 2014, shows that while overall app downloads have remained largely flat, revenue continues to rise. This points to deeper engagement and stronger monetisation as AI becomes a core feature of modern mobile apps.
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