Claude AI Tops App Store Amid Pentagon Controversy and ChatGPT Exodus
Anthropic's Claude AI has surged to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store following a dramatic clash with the Pentagon. The Defense Department labeled Anthropic a national security supply-chain risk, prompting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to block contractors from using its tools. This move coincided with OpenAI securing a Pentagon deal, igniting a #CancelChatGPT movement.
Free user growth for Claude has exceeded 60% since January, with daily sign-ups tripling since November. The app now leads charts in the U.S., Canada, and Germany, though Google Play adoption lags. Market observers note the irony of the U.S. reportedly using Claude for military operations hours after banning it from government systems.