OpenAI is under intense scrutiny after signing a deal to provide its artificial intelligence technology to the U.S. Department of Defense’s classified network. Co-founder Sam Altman confirmed the agreement, sparking widespread criticism and concern among users regarding the ethical implications of AI in military applications.
Following the announcement, many users began uninstalling the ChatGPT app in protest. Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower reported a staggering 295% increase in uninstalls on February 28, compared to the average daily uninstall rate of 9% over the past month. One-star reviews also surged by 775% on the same day, while five-star ratings dropped by 50%.
In contrast, rival AI chatbot Claude, developed by Anthropic, saw downloads surge 37% on February 27 and 51% on February 28. Claude, which rejected a similar Pentagon partnership over ethical concerns, topped the Apple App Store in the U.S. during this period.
The online campaign QuitGPT has gained momentum, urging users to cancel subscriptions and switch to alternatives like Google Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude. Over 1.5 million users have reportedly joined the boycott, highlighting a growing concern over AI ethics and military involvement.
This backlash marks a significant moment in AI adoption, emphasizing the importance of transparency and ethical responsibility in deploying artificial intelligence technology.
