Claude, the AI developed by Anthropic, has surged to become the top free app on the App Store, surpassing both ChatGPT and Google Gemini. This increase in popularity comes amid a controversial decision by President Trump, who has prohibited federal agencies from utilizing Claude and other AI applications from Anthropic due to the company's refusal to implement certain surveillance and weaponization measures.
Following the government's actions, including a warning of a "supply-chain risk" from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, users have rallied in support of Claude, contributing to its rise in downloads. The response has allowed it to overtake OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which now holds the second position in the rankings.
OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, addressed the situation during an AMA on X, labeling the designation of a supply-chain risk for Anthropic as a "very bad decision" and expressing hope for a reversal. He also characterized the blacklisting of Anthropic as an "extremely scary precedent," emphasizing the need for a favorable resolution in the ongoing dispute.