Users Cancel ChatGPT Over Pentagon Deal as Claude of Anthropic Tops App Store Charts
Surprisingly, it is not the advertising launch at ChatGPT, but ultimately something else that is turning many users worldwide against OpenAI: namely, the deal with the US military over the use of the AI models of the AI company now valued at 730 billion dollars.
This has now reached the point that under the motto “Delete ChatGPT” or “CancelChatGPT,” more and more users are switching from OpenAI’s chatbot to the competitor Claude from Anthropic. This is because Anthropic has, as reported, rejected the use of its (currently top-ranked) AI models for the purposes of mass surveillance and autonomous weapons and let a deal with the Pentagon fall through. OpenAI, in turn, made the deal just a few hours after Anthropic’s AI was placed on a blacklist by the US Department of Defense—albeit with conditions (more on that here).
However, the image damage has been done, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is aware of the “bad optics” to which his company is now exposed. On the market, one can see how more and more users are deleting ChatGPT because of the military deal and instead installing Claude from Anthropic—a number of prominent figures are currently joining in as well. Under CancelChatGPT.com, a dedicated website has been set up that summarizes criticism of OpenAI and aims to provide assistance with account deletion.
Claude ranks number 1 in the USA, Canada, and Germany
Anthropic’s Claude has overtaken ChatGPT and now ranks first among the most downloaded productivity apps in the Apple App Store in the USA. In Germany and Canada as well, Claude is in first place on Monday morning. In Switzerland, Claude is in second place ahead of ChatGPT, while in Austria, ChatGPT still holds its position ahead of Claude and Google’s Gemini.
In Google’s Play Store, the Claude effect is not yet visible. This is not insignificant, after all there are far more Android users than iPhone users. However, iPhone users are considered more willing to pay, which is interesting for Anthropic. This is because the company forgoes advertising and aims to conclude paid subscriptions (for more data about your specific region, check SensorTower).
Anthropic is currently in a difficult position in Washington. Following a public conflict with the Department of Defense over the use of its AI models, President Donald Trump ordered that federal agencies should gradually discontinue the company’s technology. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Anthropic a supply chain risk to national security. The company announced it would challenge this classification in court.
Migration documented on social media
Numerous ChatGPT users have canceled their accounts and publicly documented their switch to Claude. Pop star Katy Perry shared a screenshot of Claude’s pricing page on X with a red heart around the Pro subscription for 20 dollars per month. X user Adam Lyttle published evidence of his Anthropic bill alongside OpenAI’s cancellation confirmation. In the ChatGPT subreddit, dozens of users are urging others to delete their accounts. The hashtag Cancel ChatGPT is spreading, while some users explain that Altman’s move has crossed a red line.
However, reactions are not uniform. In several Reddit discussions, commentators argue that the news does not influence their model choice. They point to Anthropic’s partnership with Palantir and Amazon Web Services, which was concluded in November 2024 and grants US intelligence agencies and defense departments access to Claude models. This agreement raises similar concerns as OpenAI’s Pentagon deal.
Contract terms set restrictions on weapons systems
OpenAI published detailed contract terms on Saturday afternoon that define specific restrictions. The AI system may not independently control autonomous weapons systems if laws or policies require human control. Similarly, the contract prohibits the assumption of other high-risk decisions that require human approval. Regarding surveillance, the agreement stipulates that the system may not be used for unlimited surveillance of private information of US persons. Altman emphasized that the Department of Defense accepted two central security principles: the prohibition of domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility in the use of force.
While some observers view the development as normal business practice in the government sector, others see it as an unexpected PR success for Anthropic. An X user joked that Defense Secretary Hegseth might need a new title as head of Claude marketing. The controversy highlights the growing importance of ethical positioning in AI competition, where corporate partnerships have immediate effects on user loyalty.
