Google's chatbot Gemini is rapidly closing in on rival ChatGPT, with its user base expanding at a rate six times that of OpenAI's platform. This surge suggests that Google has reached an inflection point following the release of its latest AI model, Gemini 3, which outperforms GPT-5 on several key metrics.
According to web and mobile app traffic data from Sensor Tower, Gemini's global monthly active users have doubled during the past three months, compared with a 1% increase for ChatGPT. Mobile downloads of Gemini have also risen at about twice the rate of ChatGPT, indicating that Google is gaining ground in both the web and mobile markets.
User engagement is also on the rise, with Gemini users spending around 11 minutes per day in the app - more than double the time logged in March. Sensor Tower estimates that twice as many U.S. Android users access Gemini through the operating system itself rather than the standalone app, a built-in distribution channel that ChatGPT lacks.
Despite these gains, ChatGPT remains the most widely used chatbot, with over 900 million weekly users, according to recent reports. However, Google's Gemini 3 Pro model has outperformed GPT-5 and other rival models in benchmark tests, including a 2,500-question assessment that scored 37.5% accuracy for Gemini.
As Gemini continues to expand its footprint, regulators are taking notice of whether Google's advantage stems from technological innovation or market power. The European Commission has launched a formal antitrust investigation into Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode, alleging that the company is misusing publisher content without compensation to bolster its market dominance.
This inquiry follows a July complaint from the Independent Publishers Alliance, which argues that Google's A.I. summaries are siphoning revenue from news outlets. The EU probe fits into a broader pattern of scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act, including earlier penalties tied to Android and Google's advertising practices.
The rapid expansion of Gemini has sparked concerns about the competitive dynamics in the chatbot market, with regulators seeking to ensure that Google is not using its technological advantage to unfairly dominate the space.
According to web and mobile app traffic data from Sensor Tower, Gemini's global monthly active users have doubled during the past three months, compared with a 1% increase for ChatGPT. Mobile downloads of Gemini have also risen at about twice the rate of ChatGPT, indicating that Google is gaining ground in both the web and mobile markets.
User engagement is also on the rise, with Gemini users spending around 11 minutes per day in the app - more than double the time logged in March. Sensor Tower estimates that twice as many U.S. Android users access Gemini through the operating system itself rather than the standalone app, a built-in distribution channel that ChatGPT lacks.
Despite these gains, ChatGPT remains the most widely used chatbot, with over 900 million weekly users, according to recent reports. However, Google's Gemini 3 Pro model has outperformed GPT-5 and other rival models in benchmark tests, including a 2,500-question assessment that scored 37.5% accuracy for Gemini.
As Gemini continues to expand its footprint, regulators are taking notice of whether Google's advantage stems from technological innovation or market power. The European Commission has launched a formal antitrust investigation into Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode, alleging that the company is misusing publisher content without compensation to bolster its market dominance.
This inquiry follows a July complaint from the Independent Publishers Alliance, which argues that Google's A.I. summaries are siphoning revenue from news outlets. The EU probe fits into a broader pattern of scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act, including earlier penalties tied to Android and Google's advertising practices.
The rapid expansion of Gemini has sparked concerns about the competitive dynamics in the chatbot market, with regulators seeking to ensure that Google is not using its technological advantage to unfairly dominate the space.