Spending on AI apps for smartphones has reached US$2 billion, with OpenAI’s ChatGPT leading the market, according to a report from Appfigures.

Since its mobile release in May 2023, ChatGPT has generated US$529 million in revenue, far surpassing competitors.

Global spending on AI apps nearly quadrupled in 2024, reaching US$1.4 billion in that year alone, with notable growth in the final quarter.

The US remains the biggest contributor, accounting for about half of all AI app sales.

AI assistant apps dominate, with eight of the ten AI apps being chatbots.

Despite rising consumer spending, companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta still face challenges in monetizing their heavy AI infrastructure investments.