ChatGPT deletions tripled after OpenAI announced its partnership with Pentagon

In the US, a sharp increase in uninstalls of the ChatGPT mobile app was recorded. The spike occurred following reports of an agreement between OpenAI and the US Department of Defense, which, following an executive order from Donald Trump in 2025, will also use the name “Department of War.”

According to analytics firm Sensor Tower, on February 28, ChatGPT uninstalls in the US increased by 295% compared to the previous day. For comparison, the average daily uninstall rate over the past 30 days was about 9%.

Growth of Interest in Claude and User Reaction

Against this backdrop, a competitor, Claude from Anthropic, saw a surge in downloads. According to Sensor Tower, installs in the US increased by 37% on February 27, and by another 51% on February 28, following Anthropic’s announcement that it was ending its partnership with the Department of Defense.

The company explained its stance by concerns about the potential use of AI in mass surveillance systems or in the creation of autonomous weapons.

Claude rose to first place in the US App Store. At the same time, the ChatGPT rating structure changed: on February 28, the number of one-star reviews increased by 775%, while the number of five-star ratings decreased by 50%. Similar dynamics are confirmed by data from analytical services Appfigures and Similarweb.