Web traffic for OpenAI’s popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT, has witnessed a decline for the third consecutive month in August. Analytics company Similarweb revealed that global desktop and mobile site traffic to ChatGPT decreased by 3.2% to 1.43 billion in August. This drop follows a 10% decline in traffic in the previous two months. However, there was a slight increase in visits from users based in the United States, with a rise of 0.4% in August.
The decrease in traffic could be attributed to university students being on summer break. As students take time off from classes, there is a potential decrease in their usage of the chatbot for academic purposes like homework help. David F. Carr, Senior Insights Manager at Similarweb, suggested that the percentage of younger users dropped over the summer but is now starting to rebound as students resume their studies.
The data supports this theory, as there was a decline in the audience of ChatGPT users in the 18-24 age range during the summer months, both in the United States and globally. In the U.S., traffic from this demographic dropped by 10% in May, 15% in June, and an additional 4% in July. In April, visitors aged 18-24 made up 30% of the total audience share in the U.S.
The usage of ChatGPT for academic purposes has been significant among university students. According to a survey by Intelligent.com, which interviewed 1,223 undergraduate and graduate students in the U.S., 30% of respondents reported using ChatGPT for schoolwork during the academic year. It also revealed that 46% of them frequently use the chatbot for homework, and 1 in 8 students claimed an increase in their GPA linked to their usage of the AI chatbot.
While there are currently no specific regulations regarding AI usage in universities in the United States, Japan’s Ministry of Education has already expressed plans to allow limited use of generative AI tools in elementary, junior high, and high schools.
In conclusion, the decline in web traffic for OpenAI’s ChatGPT during the summer months may be attributed to university students being on break and a decrease in their usage for academic purposes. As students return to their studies, an increase in traffic is expected. The survey results highlight the significant role ChatGPT plays in assisting students with their schoolwork.
