ChatGPT Uninstalls Surge 295% Following Controversial Department of Defense Partnership

Summary

OpenAI's ChatGPT mobile app experienced a dramatic user backlash following the announcement of a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, which has been rebranded as the Department of War under the Trump administration. According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, U.S. app uninstalls jumped 295% day-over-day on Saturday, February 28, 2026, compared to ChatGPT's typical 9% uninstall rate over the previous 30 days. The surge represented a significant consumer response to OpenAI's defense collaboration.

Concurrently, competitor Anthropic's Claude app saw substantial gains after publicly declining a similar DoD partnership, citing concerns about AI being used for American surveillance and autonomous weaponry. Claude's U.S. downloads increased 37% on Friday and 51% on Saturday, propelling the app to the No. 1 position on the U.S. App Store by Saturday—a jump of over 20 ranks from the previous week. Multiple data providers confirmed the trend, with Appfigures reporting that Claude's daily U.S. downloads surpassed ChatGPT's for the first time.

The controversy also manifested in user ratings, with ChatGPT's 1-star reviews surging 775% on Saturday and growing another 100% on Sunday, while 5-star reviews declined by 50%. ChatGPT's download growth was negatively impacted as well, dropping 13% day-over-day on Saturday and another 5% on Sunday. Claude has now achieved the No. 1 free iPhone app ranking in six countries outside the U.S., including Canada, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland, signaling a broader international response to the controversy.

• Claude's daily U.S. downloads surpassed ChatGPT's for the first time, and the app reached No. 1 in six countries outside the U.S.
• The controversy highlights growing consumer sensitivity to AI companies' defense and surveillance partnerships