Artificial Intelligence Chatbot ChatGPT Faces Decline in Popularity as Issues Arise
Following a period of substantial growth earlier this year, the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT has experienced a decline in popularity as it encounters various problems. An analysis conducted by Similarweb reveals that the number of visitors to ChatGPT has dropped for the third consecutive month, with June and July witnessing the most significant declines of 10% each month. However, the situation slightly stabilized in August. Furthermore, the amount of time users engaged with the bot has also decreased, from an average of 8.7 minutes in March to 7 minutes in August. In April, the number of users almost reached 2 billion but has since fallen below 1.5 billion.
Several factors may explain this apparent decline in ChatGPT’s performance. For one, the summer break for students could have contributed to the drop in web traffic. As schoolchildren in the United States returned to classes towards the end of August, the traffic trend showed signs of stabilization. David F. Carr, a senior insights manager at Similarweb, suggests that September may witness a partial recovery in users as more students go back to school.
Compounding the issue, the capabilities of ChatGPT have significantly deteriorated. Initially celebrated for its accuracy, the chatbot’s proficiency has declined drastically over time, especially in math-related questions. A research paper published by Stanford University and UC Berkeley reveals that the latest ChatGPT model performed much worse in several areas when compared to its performance in March. For instance, in June, its accuracy in identifying prime numbers plummeted to 2.4% from an impressive 97.6% in March.
Increased competition in the field of artificial intelligence chatbots may also be a contributing factor to ChatGPT’s loss of users. While it once enjoyed a near monopoly, there are now nine other sizable chatbots vying for market share, as noted by Similarweb.
Despite experiencing a decline in users, ChatGPT remains one of the most-visited websites globally. It still boasts a substantial user base, including many younger users who frequently rely on it for academic assistance. Although the bot may have lost some viewers in recent months, it continues to provide value to its loyal audience.
As ChatGPT navigates through these challenges, it remains to be seen whether it can regain its lost popularity and restore its previous level of accuracy. The competition in the field and the need for improved performance pose significant hurdles for the AI chatbot. Time will tell if ChatGPT can adapt and recapture its former glory.
