Anthropic's AI assistant Claude has risen to become the top free app on Apple's US App Store, overtaking rival ChatGPT. The surge in popularity follows a public dispute between the AI company and the US Department of Defense (DoD) over the ethical use of its technology.
According to data from analytics firm SensorTower, Claude claimed the number one position on Saturday, 27 February 2026, and maintained the spot into Sunday. The app had been outside the top 100 at the end of January and spent most of February within the top 20 before its rapid ascent last week.
Record Growth Following Political Dispute
A company spokesperson confirmed that daily user signups have broken all-time records every day this week. Since January, the number of free users has increased by more than 60%, and paid subscribers have more than doubled in 2026.
This growth spurt coincides with a high-profile disagreement with the Pentagon. Anthropic had attempted to negotiate safeguards to prevent the DoD from using its AI models for "mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons."
Government Response and Rival's Move
In response, President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to stop using all Anthropic products. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated he is designating the company a "supply-chain threat."
Subsequently, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, announced its own agreement with the Pentagon. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claimed this agreement includes specific safeguards related to domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons systems.
Context and Market Position
The incident highlights the growing tension between leading AI developers and government entities over the military and surveillance applications of advanced artificial intelligence. Claude's rise to the top of the App Store, displacing the long-dominant ChatGPT, suggests significant public and commercial interest in the ethical stance taken by Anthropic.
The original report on the negotiations was published by CNBC on 28 February 2026 and has been updated to reflect Claude's new top ranking and the company's released growth metrics.