ChatGPT hits 200 million weekly users following viral GPT-4o image generation launch

In a striking display of the cultural power of animation and cutting-edge AI, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has experienced record-breaking growth in app usage, downloads, and revenue — thanks in large part to a viral wave of Studio Ghibli-inspired image generation.

Launched in late March, OpenAI’s new GPT-4o image generation upgrade has ignited a creative explosion among users, with the whimsical and emotionally rich art style of Studio Ghibli serving as a popular muse. The viral trend quickly caught fire across social platforms, drawing in millions of users eager to explore the tool’s capabilities — and in doing so, rewriting the record books for ChatGPT.

According to Sensor Tower, ChatGPT’s weekly active users (WAUs) on mobile surpassed 200 million for the first time ever during the week of March 24, 2025 — the same week OpenAI unveiled the image generation feature. The momentum didn’t stop there: as the feature rolled out more broadly the following week, global app downloads soared by 216%, while WAUs climbed an additional 27% week-over-week.

This two-week surge (March 24–April 6) also brought a substantial 19% increase in in-app purchases and subscription revenue, signaling that users weren’t just curious — they were ready to pay for premium features. ChatGPT even climbed the web traffic rankings, becoming the fifth most visited desktop site in the U.S., up from its average ninth-place ranking throughout 2024.

The success of this rollout underscores OpenAI’s strategic pivot: placing visual creativity at the core of its product experience. As competitors in the AI space gain momentum — including Meta AI and Google’s Gemini — ChatGPT’s ability to combine text and image capabilities into a single seamless tool is becoming a key differentiator in a rapidly evolving market.

Sensor Tower is calling this the “Ghibli Effect” — a rare convergence of viral culture, artistic inspiration, and AI innovation. While the spike in user engagement reflects broader enthusiasm for generative tools, it also shows how emotional, familiar aesthetics can drive mainstream adoption of emerging technologies.