A recent study by Similarweb has revealed a significant decline in the number of users visiting ChatGPT’s website. The popular AI tool, developed by OpenAI, experienced a surge in popularity last year when it surpassed 100 million users. However, the trend took a downward turn in March, with users spending less time on the site each month.
According to Similarweb’s data, the average time spent on ChatGPT dropped from 8.7 minutes in March to just seven minutes by August. Furthermore, the number of active users on the platform decreased by nearly 10% in both June and July. However, there was a slight stabilization in August, which experts attribute to students going on summer vacation.
“While the drop in web traffic over the summer could partly be due to schools being out, it’s interesting to note that the trend stabilized in August as more students returned to class,” said the report. Similarweb also highlighted that college-age individuals make up over a quarter of ChatGPT’s user base, with students seeking homework help being a significant factor.
A separate survey conducted by Intelligent.com further supports this finding, revealing that around 30% of the 1,223 students surveyed had used ChatGPT for their schoolwork in the previous academic year. Teachers have expressed concern about the use of AI tools in assignments and have implemented software to detect if students have employed such tools.
One possible explanation for the decline in ChatGPT usage could be its decreasing accuracy over time. A study conducted by Stanford University and UC Berkeley found that the model’s ability to identify prime numbers dropped from 97.6% accuracy in March to a mere 2.4% accuracy in June.
Additionally, OpenAI now faces increased competition in the chatbot space. Anthropic recently introduced a paid tier for its Claude chatbot at the same price point as ChatGPT.
As of now, OpenAI has not provided any official comment on the declining usage of ChatGPT. However, the study suggests that further investigations are required to understand the changes in large language models over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why has ChatGPT experienced a decline in website visits?
A: According to a study by Similarweb, ChatGPT’s decline in website visits can be attributed to a decrease in the average time spent by users on the site. The drop in usage began in March and continued throughout the year.
Q: Who are the primary users of ChatGPT?
A: College-age individuals form a significant portion of ChatGPT’s user base, accounting for over 25% of adult users, as documented by Similarweb.
Q: Is ChatGPT commonly used by students for their schoolwork?
A: Yes, a survey conducted by Intelligent.com found that approximately 30% of the students surveyed had utilized ChatGPT for their academic assignments in the previous academic year.
Q: What is the concern among teachers regarding the use of AI tools like ChatGPT in assignments?
A: Teachers have expressed concerns about the use of AI tools in assignments, leading some to implement software to detect if students have employed such tools. Some schools have also introduced guidelines discouraging the use of AI tools in the application process.
Q: What factors contribute to the decline in ChatGPT’s accuracy?
A: Research conducted by Stanford University and UC Berkeley suggests that ChatGPT’s accuracy has decreased over time. In a study comparing accuracy rates between March and June, the model’s ability to identify prime numbers dropped from 97.6% to 2.4%.