A sharp backlash is unfolding against OpenAI after CEO Sam Altman announced a new agreement with the US Department of Defence. Fresh app intelligence data suggests the outrage is translating into action, with large numbers of users uninstalling ChatGPT and turning to rival platforms.
According to figures reported by TechCrunch and attributed to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, uninstalls of the ChatGPT mobile app surged by 295 per cent on Saturday compared with the previous day. That spike far exceeds the chatbot’s typical day-over-day uninstall rate of roughly nine per cent over the past month.
The data marks one of the most dramatic short-term reversals in user sentiment since ChatGPT’s launch.
Fallout From the Pentagon Deal
The controversy began after OpenAI confirmed a deal to provide artificial intelligence tools to the US Department of Defence. Critics argue that the agreement could allow advanced AI systems to be used in military planning or operations, intensifying ethical concerns that have followed the industry’s rapid growth.
In online forums and social media threads, some users accused OpenAI of compromising its earlier public positioning around AI safety. One widely shared post on Reddit called on subscribers to cancel paid plans and share proof of their cancellations. Others posted guides explaining how to export ChatGPT conversation histories and migrate to competing services.
Altman attempted to address the backlash during a live question-and-answer session on X, but critics continued pressing the company over the scope of its military involvement.
Claude Gains as Users Jump Ship.
Much of the departing traffic appears to be heading toward Anthropic and its chatbot, Claude.
Anthropic has publicly stated that it would not allow its AI systems to be used in autonomous weapons or for mass domestic surveillance. While questions remain about how AI tools may ultimately be deployed in defence contexts, the company’s stance appears to have resonated with users.
Sensor Tower data cited by TechCrunch shows that Claude installs rose 37 per cent day-over-day on Friday and an additional 51 per cent on Saturday. Over the weekend, Claude climbed to the top position in the US App Store, overtaking ChatGPT, which slipped into second place.
For the first time, US downloads of Claude reportedly surpassed those of ChatGPT.
Growth Slows for ChatGPT
The controversy has not only affected uninstalls. It has also dampened new user growth.
Download growth for ChatGPT dropped 14 per cent day-over-day on Saturday, followed by a further five per cent decline the next day. Just one day before the backlash intensified, growth had been running at a positive 13 per cent.
Such swings highlight how quickly public perception can shift in the highly competitive AI market. While ChatGPT remains one of the most widely used AI applications globally, its dominant position is no longer unchallenged.
A Test for the Broader AI Industry
The episode underscores a deeper tension shaping the artificial intelligence race: the balance between commercial expansion, government partnerships, and public trust.
AI companies increasingly rely on enterprise and government contracts to fund large-scale model development. At the same time, consumer adoption depends heavily on perceptions of safety, transparency, and ethical use.
Whether the backlash proves temporary or signals a longer-term shift remains uncertain. App rankings can fluctuate rapidly, and uninstall spikes do not always translate into permanent losses. However, the scale of the reaction suggests that defence partnerships carry reputational risks in an industry built on public goodwill.
For now, the numbers tell a clear story. A 295 per cent surge in uninstalls is more than routine churn. It reflects a moment of reckoning for OpenAI — and a reminder that in the AI era, public opinion can move just as quickly as the technology itself.