Claude tops App Store as ChatGPT users back Anthropic's Pentagon stance

With OpenAI securing its position in Washington, Anthropic is capturing users and soaring up the App Store rankings.

Anthropic has been on the sidelines in Washington after a public disagreement with the Department of Defense about AI model applications. 

President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to phase out its technology.

On the other side, OpenAI has made progress, with CEO Sam Altman revealing in a Friday night post on X that an agreement was made with the Department of War for deploying AI models in its secure network.

OpenAI's new deal has left some loyal ChatGPT users concerned about OpenAI's goals, sparking online discussions about ethical considerations — and some expressing they were switching to competitor Claude.

At 6:38pm ET on Saturday, Claude was ranked as the top downloaded productivity app on Apple's App Store, surpassing ChatGPT.

Switchers have been active on social media, sharing screenshots to document their transition.

Pop star Katy Perry commented she was "finished" on X, alongside an image of Claude's pricing page, emphasising the $20-per-month "Pro" option with a red heart.

Another X user, Adam Lyttle, stated "Switched over," showing a screenshot of his email with a receipt from Anthropic and cancellation confirmation from OpenAI.

In Reddit's ChatGPT subreddit, many users claim they've closed their accounts, urging others to take similar steps.

"Cancel ChatGPT" has become a widespread phrase online, while some users have taken a more direct touch, noting Altman's decision "crossed the line."

In a Reddit discussion, some commenters stated the news does not sway their choice of AI model, pointing out that Anthropic's collaboration with Palantir raises comparable concerns.

In November 2024, Anthropic, Palantir, and Amazon Web Services agreed to give US intelligence and defense agencies access to Claude models.