Since it debuted in November 2022, ChatGPT, the AI chatbot from OpenAI that generates text, has become extremely popular. Initially designed as a tool to boost productivity by writing essays and code from brief text prompts, it has become a giant with 300 million weekly active users.
OpenAI experienced a banner year in 2024, marked by its collaboration with Apple on its generative AI product, Apple Intelligence, the introduction of GPT-4o featuring voice functionality, and the much-anticipated unveiling of its text-to-video model, Sora.
OpenAI also had its share of internal turmoil, including the high-profile departures of key executives such as co-founder and long-serving chief scientist Ilya Sutskever and CTO Mira Murati. Additionally, OpenAI has been the target of lawsuits from newspapers owned by Alden Global Capital alleging copyright violations, as well as an injunction from Elon Musk seeking to stop OpenAI from transitioning to a for-profit model.
In 2025, OpenAI faces the challenge of overcoming the perception that it is losing ground in the AI competition to Chinese competitors such as DeepSeek. The company has been working to strengthen its ties with Washington while also pursuing an ambitious data center project and reportedly laying the groundwork for what could be one of the largest funding rounds ever.
Below is a timeline of ChatGPT updates and releases, beginning with the most recent, which we have been updating throughout the year. If you have further questions, please consult our ChatGPT FAQ here.
To view a list of updates from 2024, click here.
Timeline of the most recent ChatGPT updates
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October 2025
ChatGPT manages over a million conversations about suicide each week
OpenAI disclosed that a small but noteworthy number of ChatGPT users, exceeding a million each week, engage with the AI to discuss mental health issues, including thoughts of suicide, psychosis, or mania. The company stated that it has enhanced ChatGPT’s responses by consulting with over 170 mental health professionals to ensure these conversations are handled more effectively than in earlier versions.
OpenAI is reportedly developing AI to generate music from text and audio
According to The Information, OpenAI is creating a new tool that can produce music from text and audio inputs, possibly for enhancing videos or adding musical accompaniment, and is training it using annotated scores from Juilliard students. The release date and whether it will be a separate application or integrated with ChatGPT and Sora are still unknown.
ChatGPT is improving at organizing your work and school information
According to a report by The Verge, OpenAI’s new “company knowledge” update for ChatGPT allows users of Business, Enterprise, and Education accounts to search workplace data across platforms like Slack, Google Drive, and GitHub using GPT‑5. This feature serves as a conversational search engine, providing more thorough and accurate answers by simultaneously searching multiple sources.
OpenAI launches Atlas to position ChatGPT as your primary search tool
OpenAI has launched its AI browser, ChatGPT Atlas, initially on Mac, allowing users to receive answers from ChatGPT instead of traditional search results. Unlike other AI browsers, Atlas is available to all users and will soon be available on Windows, iOS, and Android, as OpenAI seeks to establish ChatGPT as the preferred tool for web browsing.
ChatGPT app growth is slowing, but it still attracts millions of daily users
A recent analysis by Apptopia indicates that the growth of ChatGPT’s mobile app may be plateauing, with global download growth slowing since April. Although daily installs remain in the millions, October is showing an 8.1% decrease in new downloads compared to the previous month.
Walmart shopping is integrated into ChatGPT
OpenAI is partnering with Walmart to enable users to browse products, plan meals, and complete purchases through ChatGPT, with support for third-party vendors anticipated later this fall. This partnership is part of OpenAI’s broader initiative to create AI-driven e-commerce tools, including collaborations with Etsy and Shopify.
OpenAI expands ChatGPT Go plan to 16 additional Asian nations
OpenAI is expanding its budget-friendly ChatGPT Go plan, priced under $5, to 16 more countries in Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan. In some of these countries, users can pay in their local currency, while others require payment in USD, with the final cost varying due to local taxes.
ChatGPT exceeds 800 million weekly active users
According to Sam Altman, ChatGPT now boasts 800 million weekly active users, reflecting rapid growth among consumers, developers, businesses, and governments. This achievement comes as OpenAI intensifies its efforts to grow its AI infrastructure and acquire more chips to meet increasing demand.
Developers now have the ability to create apps within ChatGPT
OpenAI now allows developers to create interactive apps directly within ChatGPT, with early adopters including Booking.com, Expedia, Spotify, Figma, Coursera, Zillow, and Canva. The ChatGPT creator is also introducing a preview of its Apps SDK, a set of tools for developers to build these chat-based experiences.
September 2025
ChatGPT introduces parental controls following a teen suicide case
OpenAI is reportedly implementing parental controls on ChatGPT for web and mobile, enabling parents and teenagers to link accounts and set safeguards such as limiting sensitive content, setting quiet times, and disabling features like voice mode or image generation. This action follows increasing regulatory pressure and a lawsuit regarding the chatbot’s purported role in a teenager’s suicide.
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Pulse for personalized morning updates
OpenAI has introduced Pulse, a new ChatGPT feature that provides personalized morning briefings overnight, encouraging users to start their day with the app. This tool signifies a move towards making ChatGPT more proactive and asynchronous, positioning it as a comprehensive assistant rather than merely a chatbot. OpenAI’s new Applications CEO, Fidji Simo, described Pulse as the initial step toward providing high-level personal support to all users, starting with Pro subscribers.
OpenAI enters AI-driven shopping, challenging major tech firms
OpenAI has launched Instant Checkout in ChatGPT, enabling U.S. users to directly purchase products from Etsy and, soon, over a million Shopify merchants without leaving the conversation. Shoppers can browse items, read reviews, and complete purchases with a single tap using Apple Pay, Google Pay, Stripe, or a credit card. This update represents a move to transform online shopping by combining product discovery, recommendations, and payments in one location.
OpenAI brings affordable ChatGPT Go to users in Indonesia
OpenAI has launched its affordable ChatGPT Go plan in Indonesia for Rp 75,000 ($4.50) per month, after its initial release in India. This mid-tier plan, which offers higher usage limits, image generation, file uploads, and improved memory compared to the free version, competes directly with Google’s new AI Plus plan in Indonesia.
OpenAI strengthens ChatGPT guidelines for teens amid safety concerns
CEO Sam Altman has announced updated policies for ChatGPT users under 18, enhancing protections around sensitive conversations. The company will now block flirtatious interactions with minors and reinforce safeguards around discussions of suicide, escalating severe cases to parents or authorities. This decision follows a wrongful death lawsuit linked to alleged chatbot interactions, highlighting growing concerns about the mental health risks associated with AI companions.
OpenAI introduces GPT-5-Codex to enhance AI coding capabilities
OpenAI has released GPT-5-Codex, a new version of its AI coding agent that can spend from a few seconds to seven hours on a task, depending on its complexity. The company claims this flexible approach helps the model outperform GPT-5 on key coding metrics, including bug fixes and large-scale refactoring. This update aims to maintain Codex’s competitive edge in a rapidly growing market that now includes competitors like Claude Code, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot.
OpenAI reorganizes the team responsible for ChatGPT’s personality
OpenAI is restructuring its Model Behavior team, the small but influential group that shapes how its AI interacts with users. The approximately 14-person team is being integrated into the larger Post Training group, now under the leadership of lead researcher Max Schwarzer. Meanwhile, Joanne Jang, the founding leader, is starting a new unit called OAI Labs, which will focus on developing innovative ways for people to collaborate with AI.
August 2025
OpenAI to enhance ChatGPT safeguards following teen suicide lawsuit
In response to a lawsuit from the parents of a 16-year-old who died by suicide, OpenAI announced on its blog that it has implemented new safeguards for ChatGPT, including improved detection of mental health risks and parental control features. The AI company stated that these updates aim to provide stronger protections for suicide-related conversations and give parents greater control over their children’s usage.
xAI alleges Apple’s App Store policies provide OpenAI with an unfair advantage
Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, has filed a federal lawsuit in Texas against Apple and OpenAI, claiming that the two companies colluded to dominate key markets and exclude competitors.
OpenAI targets the Indian market with a more affordable monthly ChatGPT subscription
OpenAI has launched its most affordable subscription plan, ChatGPT Go, in India, priced at 399 rupees per month (approximately $4.57). This initiative aims to increase OpenAI’s presence in its second-largest market by offering enhanced access to the latest GPT-5 model and additional features.
ChatGPT mobile app reaches $2B in revenue, generating $2.91 per install
According to Appfigures, since its launch in May 2023, ChatGPT’s mobile app has generated $2 billion in global consumer spending, significantly surpassing competitors like Claude, Copilot, and Grok by roughly 30 times. This year alone, the app has earned $1.35 billion, a 673% increase from the same period in 2024, averaging nearly $193 million per month, which is 53 times more than its closest rival, Grok.
OpenAI continues to offer multiple GPT models despite the launch of GPT-5
Despite introducing GPT-5 as a “one-size-fits-all” AI, OpenAI still offers several legacy AI options, including GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and o3. Users can select between new “Auto,” “Fast,” and “Thinking” modes for GPT-5, and paid subscribers can still access legacy models such as GPT-4o and GPT-4.1.
Sam Altman discusses GPT-5 glitches and “chart crime” during a Reddit AMA
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman informed Reddit users that GPT-5’s “dumber” behavior at launch was caused by a router issue and promised fixes, doubled rate limits for Plus users, and provided transparency on which model is providing answers, while also dismissing the infamous “chart crime” from the live presentation.
OpenAI introduces GPT-5, a more intelligent, task-oriented ChatGPT
OpenAI has released GPT-5, a next-generation AI that is not only smarter but also more practical, capable of handling tasks such as coding apps, managing calendars, and creating research briefs, while automatically determining the quickest or most thoughtful way to respond to your inquiries.
OpenAI provides ChatGPT Enterprise to federal agencies for only $1
OpenAI is making a significant push into federal government operations by offering ChatGPT Enterprise to agencies for just $1 for the next year. This initiative follows the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) adding OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to its list of approved AI vendors, allowing agencies to access these tools through pre-set contracts without needing to negotiate pricing.
OpenAI returns to open source with new AI models
OpenAI has unveiled its first open source language models since GPT-2, introducing two new open-weight AI releases: gpt-oss-120b, a high-performance model capable of running on a single Nvidia GPU, and gpt-oss-20b, a lighter model optimized for laptop use. This move comes amid growing competition in the global AI market and a push for more open technology in the U.S. and internationally.
ChatGPT approaches 700M weekly users, quadrupling its growth in one year
ChatGPT’s rapid growth is accelerating. OpenAI reported that the chatbot is on pace to reach 700 million weekly active users in the first week of August, up from 500 million at the end of March. Nick Turley, OpenAI’s VP and head of the ChatGPT app, highlighted the app’s growth on X, noting it has quadrupled in size over the past year.
July 2025
ChatGPT now includes a study mode
OpenAI has introduced Study Mode, a new ChatGPT feature designed to encourage critical thinking by prompting students to interact with the material instead of just receiving answers. The tool is currently being rolled out to Free, Plus, Pro, and Team users, with availability for Edu subscribers expected in the coming weeks.
Altman cautions that therapy through ChatGPT is not confidential
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman advised ChatGPT users to be cautious when seeking emotional support from AI, as the AI industry lacks safeguards for sensitive conversations, during a recent appearance on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von. He noted that unlike human therapists, AI tools are not bound by doctor-patient confidentiality.
ChatGPT processes 2.5 billion prompts daily
ChatGPT now handles 2.5 billion prompts daily from users worldwide, including approximately 330 million from the U.S. This is more than double the volume reported by CEO Sam Altman just eight months prior, highlighting the chatbot’s rapid expansion.
OpenAI launches a versatile agent in ChatGPT
OpenAI has announced ChatGPT Agent, which can perform a wide range of computer-based tasks on behalf of users and integrates capabilities such as Operator and Deep Research. According to OpenAI, this agent can automatically manage a user’s calendar, create editable presentations and slideshows, run code, shop online, and handle complex workflows from start to finish, all within a secure virtual environment.
Study highlights significant risks with AI therapy chatbots
Researchers at Stanford University have found that therapy chatbots powered by large language models can sometimes stigmatize individuals with mental health conditions or respond inappropriately or harmfully. While these chatbots are “being used as companions, confidants, and therapists,” the study identified “significant risks.”
OpenAI delays the release of its open model again
CEO Sam Altman announced that the company is delaying the release of its open model, which had already been postponed by a month earlier this summer. OpenAI, which initially planned to release the model around mid-July, has now indefinitely postponed its launch to conduct further safety testing.
OpenAI is reportedly set to release an AI browser in the coming weeks
OpenAI is planning to launch an AI-driven web browser to compete with Google Chrome from Alphabet. It will keep some user interactions within ChatGPT, rather than directing users to external websites.
ChatGPT is testing a new feature called “Study Together”
Some ChatGPT users have noticed a new feature called “Study Together” in their list of available tools. This represents the chatbot’s effort to become a more effective educational resource, rather than just providing answers to prompts. Some users also speculate whether a feature will be added to allow multiple users to join the chat, similar to a study group.
Referrals from ChatGPT to news sites are increasing but not enough to compensate for search declines
Referrals from ChatGPT to news publishers are on the rise. However, this increase is not sufficient to offset the decrease in clicks, as more users now obtain their news directly from AI or AI-powered search results, according to a report by digital market intelligence firm Similarweb. Since Google launched its AI Overviews in May 2024, the percentage of news searches that do not result in clicks on news websites has risen from 56% to nearly 69% by May 2025.
June 2025
OpenAI utilizes Google’s AI chips to power its products
According to Reuters, OpenAI has started using Google’s AI chips to power ChatGPT and other products. The ChatGPT creator is one of the largest purchasers of Nvidia’s GPUs, utilizing the AI chips to train models, and this marks the first instance of OpenAI employing non-Nvidia chips in a significant capacity.
A recent MIT study suggests that ChatGPT may be impairing critical thinking abilities
Researchers from MIT’s Media Lab monitored the brain activity of writers across 32 regions. Their findings indicated that ChatGPT users exhibited minimal brain engagement and consistently fell short in neural, linguistic, and behavioral aspects. In the test, 54 participants from the Boston area, aged 18 to 39, were divided into three groups. Each participant was tasked with writing multiple SAT essays using tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the Google search engine, or without any tools.
ChatGPT was downloaded 30 million times last month
The ChatGPT app for iOS was downloaded 29.6 million times in the past 28 days, while TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X were downloaded a total of 32.9 million times during the same period, indicating a difference of about 10.6%, as reported by ZDNET citing a Similarweb X post.
The energy needed for a typical ChatGPT query can power a lightbulb for a few minutes
Sam Altman stated that an average ChatGPT query uses approximately one-fifteenth of a teaspoon of water, equivalent to 0.000083 gallons, or the energy needed to power a lightbulb for a few minutes, according to Business Insider. In addition to this, the chatbot requires 0.34 watt-hours of electricity to operate.
OpenAI has introduced o3-pro, an upgraded version of its o3 AI reasoning model
OpenAI has unveiled o3-pro, an improved version of its o3 reasoning model, which the chatGPT maker launched earlier this year. O3-pro is available for ChatGPT and Team users, as well as in the API, while Enterprise and Edu users will gain access in the third week of June.
ChatGPT’s conversational voice mode has been enhanced
OpenAI has upgraded ChatGPT’s conversational voice mood for all paid users across various markets and platforms. The startup has launched an update to Advanced Voice that allows users to converse with ChatGPT aloud in a more natural and fluid tone. The company stated that the feature also facilitates easier language translation for users.
ChatGPT has introduced new features such as meeting recording and connectors for Google Drive, Box, and more
OpenAI’s ChatGPT now provides new functions for business users, including integrations with various cloud services, meeting recordings, and MCP connection support for linking to tools for in-depth research. This feature allows ChatGPT to retrieve information from users’ own services to answer their queries. For example, an analyst could utilize the company’s slide deck and documents to formulate an investment thesis.
May 2025
OpenAI CFO states hardware will be a key factor in ChatGPT’s growth
OpenAI is planning to acquire Jony Ive’s devices startup, io, for $6.4 billion. Sarah Friar, CFO of OpenAI, believes that the hardware will significantly improve ChatGPT and expand OpenAI’s reach to a broader audience in the future.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT introduces its AI coding agent, Codex
OpenAI has unveiled Codex, its AI coding agent, powered by codex-1, a version of its o3 AI reasoning model designed for software engineering tasks. OpenAI claims that codex-1 generates more precise and “cleaner” code than o3. This coding agent can take between one and 30 minutes to complete tasks such as writing simple features, fixing bugs, answering questions about your codebase, and running tests.
Sam Altman intends to enhance ChatGPT’s personalization by tracking every aspect of a person’s life
During a recent AI event hosted by VC firm Sequoia, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that he wants ChatGPT to record and remember every detail of a person’s life when an attendee inquired about how ChatGPT can become more personalized.
OpenAI launches its GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 mini AI models in ChatGPT
OpenAI announced the release of its GPT-4.1 and GPT4.1 mini AI models in ChagGPT in a post on X.
ChatGPT deep research now integrates with GitHub (in beta) to answer code-related questions
OpenAI has introduced a new feature for ChatGPT deep research that enables the analysis of code repositories on GitHub. This ChatGPT deep research feature is currently in beta and allows developers to connect with GitHub to ask questions about codebases and engineering documents. According to an OpenAI spokesperson, the connector will soon be available for ChatGPT Plus,
