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ChatGPT Uninstalls Surge 295% After Pentagon Deal — Claude Climbs to #1
3 min read OpenAI’s new partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense didn’t just spark debate — it triggered a measurable user revolt. Within 24 hours of the announcement, ChatGPT saw a dramatic spike in uninstalls, while rival Claude surged to the top of the App Store. March 03, 2026 16:37
OpenAI’s ChatGPT experienced a sharp backlash after news broke of its deal with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), recently rebranded under the Trump administration as the “Department of War.”
According to Sensor Tower, U.S. uninstalls of ChatGPT’s mobile app jumped 295% day-over-day on February 28 — a massive spike compared to its typical 9% daily uninstall rate over the past month. At the same time, downloads fell 13% on Saturday and another 5% on Sunday. Just a day before the announcement, downloads had been up 14%.
Meanwhile, competitor Anthropic positioned itself on the opposite side of the debate. The company announced it would not partner with the U.S. defense department, citing concerns over surveillance and the potential use of AI in autonomous weaponry.
The market reaction was immediate.
Claude, Anthropic’s chatbot, saw U.S. downloads jump 37% on Friday and 51% on Saturday (Sensor Tower data). Appfigures estimates were even higher, reporting an 88% surge on Saturday. For the first time, Claude’s total daily U.S. downloads surpassed those of ChatGPT — and the app climbed to #1 on the U.S. App Store, up more than 20 ranks from the previous week.
The sentiment shift showed up in ratings too. One-star reviews for ChatGPT surged 775% on Saturday and doubled again on Sunday. Meanwhile, five-star reviews fell by 50%.
This isn’t just a PR flare-up — it’s a real-time example of how geopolitics now directly affects consumer AI behavior.
For AI companies, the message is clear: alignment isn’t just about model safety anymore. It’s about public trust.
AI Agents