OpenAI to Release Upgraded Chat Model, ChatGPT User Growth Rebounds to Over 10%

OpenAI, parent company of ChatGPT, is set to release an upgraded chat model amid heightened competition from Anthropic's Claude and Google. CEO Sam Altman told employees and investors user growth in ChatGPT is back to over 10% per month, with the company planning a major release this week. Currently, ChatGPT sees over 800 million weekly users, but it faces intensifying pressure from rivals. In December 2025, OpenAI issued a "red alert" to prioritize ChatGPT development. Internal updates showed Codex, OpenAI's programming tool, posted about 50% weekly growth, outpacing Anthropic's Claude Code. Last week, OpenAI released GPT-5.3-Codex and a standalone application for Apple devices to broaden reach.