According to Fast Company, OpenAI’s position as the undisputed leader in AI is under serious pressure from Google’s new Gemini 3 Pro model. The newsletter notes that while ChatGPT boasts 800 million weekly active users, Google’s Gemini app has 650 million monthly active users. More tellingly, web traffic analysis from SimilarWeb shows Gemini’s share grew from 5.7% a year ago to over 15% today, while ChatGPT’s once-dominant 87% share a year ago has shrunk to 71.3%. The piece also covers Apple’s change in AI leadership and new cooperation deals between the music industry and AI music generation apps.
The Inevitable Gravity of Competition
Here’s the thing: OpenAI was bound to face this moment. You can’t have a market that’s this valuable and this hyped without every other tech giant throwing absolutely everything they have at it. Google’s Gemini growth, from 5.7% to over 15% in a year, is a massive swing. That’s not just a blip. It shows Google is finally getting its act together and that users are responding. ChatGPT’s drop from 87% to 71%? That’s still a huge lead, but the trend line is clear. The invincibility aura is gone. Now it’s a real, messy, expensive street fight for every user and every developer’s mindshare. And honestly, that’s probably better for everyone in the long run.
Stakeholder Whiplash
So what does this mean for the rest of us? For users, it’s great. More competition means faster innovation, better features, and maybe even more favorable pricing. You’re no longer locked into one ecosystem by default. For developers and enterprises building on these platforms, though, it introduces a new layer of complexity. Do you bet on the original leader, or the resurgent giant with deep pockets? Or do you try to build in a way that’s portable? This shifting landscape creates uncertainty, and in business tech, uncertainty costs money. It forces a more strategic, less fanboy-ish approach to AI adoption.
The Ripples Beyond Chatbots
The other tidbits in the report are just as fascinating. Apple shaking up its AI leadership tells you everything you need to know about the internal pressure they’re feeling. They’re late, and they know it. That’s a company in scramble mode. Then there’s the music industry cutting deals with AI music generators. That’s huge! After years of lawsuits and fear, it seems the strategy is shifting to “if you can’t beat ’em, license ’em.” It’s a pragmatic, if not slightly desperate, move that could legitimize a whole new creative (and legal) category. Basically, the entire ecosystem around AI is maturing at a breakneck pace, moving from pure experimentation to messy, real-world business and power struggles.
