ChatGPT Uninstalls Surge Amidst Deal With US Department of War

Summary

OpenAI's partnership with the Department of War sparked a sharp backlash from users, as evidenced by Sensor Tower data. ChatGPT's US uninstalls surged 295% day-over-day on February 28, 2026, and continued climbing, while its average uninstall rate over the previous 30 days was only 9% daily. Daily active users (DAUs) dropped 13% on Feb 28 and 5% on Mar 1, with a 16% decline in website visits.

In contrast, Claude, which publicly declined a Pentagon partnership, saw US downloads jump 37% and 51% on Feb 27-28, respectively, and reached the #1 spot on the Apple App Store. Claude's DAUs climbed 12% on Feb 27, and in-app subscription revenue rose 28% and 25% on Feb 27-28. While Claude's audience is 60x smaller than ChatGPT's, the data indicates significant user migration and sentiment shift.

The backlash is also reflected in ChatGPT's App Store ratings: 1-star reviews surged 775% on Feb 28, while 5-star reviews fell 50%. By March 2, ChatGPT received over 5,000 1-star reviews, a 480% daily increase. Google Gemini, though not involved in the controversy, saw a 9% daily download increase during the same period.

For adtech decision-makers, these insights suggest that brand perception directly impacts user acquisition and retention. Ad inventory on ChatGPT may see reduced engagement, while Claude presents a growing but smaller audience opportunity. Advertisers should monitor sentiment trends and consider shifting budgets to platforms with positive public perception.

Analyst Note

The sharp divergence in user behavior between ChatGPT and Claude following OpenAI’s partnership with the Department of War represents a clear industry signal: ethical positioning is now a measurable factor in AI app retention and acquisition. What’s notable here is the velocity of the shift—ChatGPT’s uninstall rate spiked 295% DoD and continued climbing, while Claude saw sustained daily active user growth and app store ranking gains. For UA teams, this underscores that brand trust and ethical alignment can drive immediate competitive advantage, especially in a market where user switching costs are low.

The data also highlights the fragility of top-of-funnel metrics: ChatGPT’s US downloads fell 13% DoD on the announcement day, while Claude’s surged 51%. Monetization strategists should note the correlation between sentiment shifts and in-app purchase behavior—Claude’s IAP revenue jumped 28% DoD, indicating that users are not just downloading but committing financially. This suggests that ethical differentiation can directly impact revenue streams, not just vanity metrics.

For ad ops, the key implication is that real-time monitoring of app store ratings, uninstalls, and DAU trends—rather than just installs—is critical for understanding the true health of a campaign post-controversy. The 775% surge in 1-star reviews for ChatGPT signals that negative sentiment can rapidly erode user base quality, affecting ad inventory value. Meanwhile, Claude’s ascension to the top of the App Store illustrates how a single competitive decision can reshape the market hierarchy, even against a dominant player with 60x the audience.