Many ChatGPT users have reportedly switched to other chatbots, such as Claude, after OpenAI signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense.
According to The Independent, the boycott movement was “triggered” after OpenAI agreed to allow the Pentagon to use its AI tools within the U.S. military’s classified systems last weekend. The controversy intensified when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted multiple updates about the agreement, despite previously supporting Anthropic’s stance that AI data from Americans should not be used to monitor American citizens.
A Reddit post on March 2 calling for users to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions gained support from a community of more than 11 million members. Across platforms such as X, Facebook, and TikTok, numerous users also stated that they had begun switching to alternative chatbots.
“OpenAI has just made a deal with the devil and lost its loyal customers,” wrote Reddit user boomroom11, whose comment received more than 29,000 likes and nearly 2,000 replies. “The company, originally founded as a nonprofit dedicated to building safe AI for humanity, is now accepting defense contracts. Sam Altman has decided that defense funding matters more than those principles.”
Another user on X wrote:
“Sam Altman took advantage of Anthropic’s situation and signed a contract that their rival had previously refused. There’s nothing more to say.”
Pop star Katy Perry also showed support for Anthropic by posting a screenshot of her Claude Pro subscription confirmation on X with the caption “Done” followed by a heart emoji.
Fortune reported that messages such as “Cancel ChatGPT” and “Support Claude” have spread widely across Reddit and X. A website called QuitGPT has also appeared, promoting a campaign encouraging users to “leave ChatGPT,” claiming more than 1.5 million participants.
Meanwhile, Anthropic reported that daily Claude registrations have reached record highs. Free user sign-ups have increased by more than 60% since January, while the number of paid subscribers has doubled. On the U.S. App Store, Claude has reportedly climbed to the top position, while ChatGPT dropped to second place, with Google’s Gemini ranking fourth.
Earlier data from analytics firm Sensor Tower showed that on January 30, the Claude iOS app ranked only 131st in the United States. During most of February, it fluctuated around the Top 20, while ChatGPT consistently held the No. 1 position.
OpenAI moved quickly to secure the partnership after Anthropic stepped away from similar opportunities. According to The New York Times, Altman personally contacted Emil Michael, Chief Technology Officer at the U.S. Department of Defense, to propose collaboration.
The agreement reportedly includes safety restrictions similar to those proposed by Anthropic, stating that AI will not be used to control autonomous weapons or conduct surveillance on U.S. citizens. Nevertheless, according to Business Insider, the partnership has raised concerns among users about OpenAI’s ambitions, sparking widespread ethical debates online.
According to TechCrunch, employees from rival technology companies have also expressed support for Anthropic. An open letter titled “We Will Not Be Divided” called on technology leaders to maintain ethical standards and unity, gathering signatures from more than 600 Google employees and over 90 OpenAI employees.