Google's AI assistant, Gemini, experienced a significant 54% increase in global web traffic during September, a surge largely attributed to the viral popularity of its new AI image generation features. During the same period, OpenAI's ChatGPT also continued its growth trajectory with a 4% increase in traffic, according to a recent analysis by Bank of America.
Key Takeaways
- Google Gemini's global web traffic jumped 54% month-over-month in September, while U.S. traffic increased by 37%.
- The growth was reportedly driven by the release of a new AI image generation model, which briefly pushed the Gemini app to the No. 1 spot in major app stores.
- OpenAI's ChatGPT saw a 4% global traffic increase and a 16% rise in the U.S. market.
- Mobile app data shows ChatGPT added 15 million daily average users in September, while Gemini added 8 million.
- Year-over-year data highlights the explosive growth in the sector, with U.S. traffic for Gemini and ChatGPT up 124% and 272%, respectively.
Gemini's Growth Spurt Driven by New Feature
A new report from Bank of America highlights a substantial increase in user engagement for Google's Gemini. The analysis, which cites data from the web analytics firm Similarweb, shows a 54% month-over-month rise in global daily web traffic for the AI platform in September. The growth was even more pronounced in the United States, where traffic climbed by 37%.
Analysts attribute this sharp uptick to a specific product launch. In mid-September, Google introduced an AI image generation model that gained widespread attention online. The feature, known for creating a viral "Nano Banana" image, captured public interest and drove a wave of new users to the platform.
"In mid-Sep, viral popularity of Google's Nano Banana image generation model gave Gemini a boost in adoption, with the app briefly reaching the No. 1 spot on major app stores," noted Bank of America analysts led by Justin Post.
This surge in adoption is seen as a positive development for Google's parent company, Alphabet. The report suggests that Gemini's ability to compete with other leading AI models is a key factor for investors.
"Given investor sentiment around Alphabet has become somewhat linked to Gemini's perceived competitiveness versus ChatGPT, we think progress on Gemini adoption is constructive for the stock," the investor note stated.
Understanding the AI Landscape
The market for generative AI assistants is highly competitive, with major technology companies vying for user adoption. Platforms like Google's Gemini, OpenAI's ChatGPT, and others are in a race to offer more advanced features, from text generation and coding assistance to complex image creation. User traffic and daily active users are key metrics watched by investors to gauge market leadership.
Comparative Analysis of AI Platforms
While Gemini's monthly growth was explosive, other platforms in the artificial intelligence space also saw changes in user traffic. OpenAI's ChatGPT, a dominant player in the market, continued to grow, albeit at a more moderate pace. Its global web traffic increased by 4% in September, with U.S. traffic rising by 16%.
The data provides a broader view of the search and AI landscape:
- Google Search: Saw a modest 2% increase in global traffic.
- Microsoft Bing: Experienced a 4% decline in global traffic and an 8% drop in the U.S.
Year-Over-Year Growth Shows AI Boom
The long-term growth for leading AI platforms is substantial. According to Bank of America, year-over-year data for the U.S. market shows a 124% increase in traffic for Gemini. For ChatGPT, the growth is even more dramatic, with traffic up 272% compared to the previous year. These figures underscore the rapid mainstream adoption of generative AI tools.
Mobile App Usage Reflects Fierce Competition
The battle for AI dominance extends beyond web browsers and into mobile applications. Data from Sensor Tower, also referenced in the Bank of America report, reveals significant gains in daily average users (DAUs) for several key AI apps in September.
ChatGPT led the pack in terms of absolute numbers, adding 15 million global daily average users during the month. This indicates its strong, established presence and continued appeal on mobile devices.
Google's Gemini also performed well, adding 8 million global DAUs, likely boosted by the interest in its new image generator. Other platforms also saw growth, though on a smaller scale:
- Perplexity: This AI-powered search engine added 1 million DAUs.
- xAI's Grok: The AI model from xAI increased its user base by 1.8 million DAUs.
These statistics highlight that while web traffic shows one side of the story, the mobile front is a critical and highly active area of competition. The ability to attract and retain users on smartphones is becoming increasingly important for long-term success in the AI sector.
As these platforms continue to evolve and introduce new capabilities, user engagement metrics will remain a crucial indicator of which companies are leading the technological shift. For now, both Google and OpenAI are demonstrating significant momentum in a rapidly expanding market.