Consumer interest in the AI startup Anthropic, which surged after it resisted a Pentagon contract dispute, is beginning to plateau. Data from market intelligence firms indicates that while daily active users continue to grow, the viral moment that briefly saw its Claude app overtake ChatGPT in US downloads has waned.
The shift follows a period where Anthropic captured public attention by refusing to back down amid a formal designation by the US Department of Defense as a national security risk. This stance triggered a wave of public support, including messages of thanks outside its headquarters and endorsements from celebrities.
Download Data Shows a Shift
According to data reviewed by Business Insider, ChatGPT retook the lead from Claude in estimated daily downloads on US Apple and Google Play stores earlier in March. Kara Lee, a brand and digital analyst at Sensor Tower, stated that Claude's daily download rate "has largely plateaued, averaging a 2% DoD (day-over-day) decline" as of March 25. In contrast, ChatGPT downloads increased by 1% day-over-day.
Despite this recent dip, Anthropic's position remains vastly improved from early February. At that time, Claude was not in the top 40 most downloaded free apps on Apple's US App Store. As of last Friday, it ranked No. 2, directly behind ChatGPT. Lee noted that Anthropic has still seen a 166% increase in daily downloads compared to February levels.
Enterprise Focus vs. Consumer Spike
Anthropic has historically focused on the enterprise market, which co-founder Dario Amodei has described as a more reliable business model than consumer-facing AI. "I think we have a better business model. I think we have better margins," Amodei said during The New York Times' DealBook summit in December 2023.
The confrontation with the Pentagon provided an unexpected opening into the mainstream consumer space. The viral surge coincided with advances in Anthropic's AI models and the release of new coding and business-focused tools.
Legal and Operational Strains
As consumer interest grew, Anthropic expressed significant concern about the impact of the national security risk designation on its core enterprise business. The company sued the Pentagon and the Trump administration to block the formal "supply chain risk" label. Separately, then-President Donald Trump ordered all federal agencies to cease using Anthropic's products within six months.
In a recent legal development, US District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco temporarily blocked the Pentagon from labelling Anthropic as a national security risk, putting her ruling on hold for a week to allow for a potential Justice Department appeal.
The company is also experiencing operational strain from its growth. Earlier this week, Anthropic adjusted its usage limits to manage demand during peak hours. "I know this was frustrating," said Thariq Shihipar, who works on Claude, in a post on X. "We're continuing to invest in scaling."
Despite the tensions, Anthropic continues to engage with the federal government. The Washington Post reported that Claude is being used to assist the US military in carrying out strikes in Iran, indicating ongoing, albeit complex, governmental relationships.