Google's Gemini Hits 750M Users, But ChatGPT Still Leads the Race

750 million users. That's how many people are now using Google's AI chatbot Gemini every month, according to the company's latest earnings. It's a massive jump from 650 million last quarter, but there's a catch: ChatGPT still leads with an estimated 810 million monthly active users.

The Real Battle Behind the Numbers

These aren't just vanity metrics. In a market where Meta AI commands nearly 500 million monthly users, the fight for second place has become as important as challenging the leader. Google's aggressive push reflects a company that once dominated search but finds itself playing catch-up in the AI era.

The timing of this growth coincides with Gemini 3's launch, which Google claims offers "unprecedented depth and nuance." CEO Sundar Pichai called it a "positive driver" for growth, but the real test lies in whether technical improvements translate to sustained user engagement.

Google's strategy extends beyond just better models. The company recently launched Google AI Plus at $7.99 per month – less than half the price of ChatGPT Plus's$20 monthly fee. "We are focused on a free tier and subscriptions and seeing great growth," said chief business officer Philipp Schindler.

Scale Meets Strategy

The numbers reveal the massive infrastructure behind this growth. Google's first-party models now process over 10 billion tokens per minute through direct API usage. This isn't just about chatbots – it's about becoming the backbone of AI-powered applications across industries.

Google's broader success story adds context: the company surpassed $400 billion in annual revenue for the first time, largely driven by AI expansion. The introduction of their Ironwood TPU AI accelerator chip signals a move toward vertical integration, challenging Nvidia's dominance in AI hardware.

The Platform Play

What makes Google's position unique isn't just Gemini as a standalone product, but its integration across the company's ecosystem. Unlike OpenAI, which relies primarily on ChatGPT, Google can leverage search, Android, YouTube, and enterprise services to drive adoption.

This ecosystem advantage becomes clearer when considering user behavior. Many Gemini users likely discover it through Google Search rather than seeking out an AI chatbot specifically. This "discovery through integration" could be Google's secret weapon in the long run.

The Subscription Question

Google's pricing strategy raises interesting questions about the AI market's maturity. By undercutting ChatGPT's pricing significantly, Google is essentially betting that lower prices will drive higher adoption rates. But this approach also suggests the market hasn't yet established what users are actually willing to pay for AI assistance.

The launch timing of Google AI Plus – too recent to impact quarterly figures – means we won't know its effectiveness until next quarter. This creates an interesting dynamic where Google's growth story is still being written.