Is ChatGPT on the Decline:

ChatGPT, once the leading AI tool for a wide range of tasks, is showing signs of decline. Recent data reveals a 6% drop in web traffic, from a peak of 203 million 7-day average visits. This drop coincides with the launch of Google’s Gemini 3, suggesting a shift in user preferences. 

OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, acknowledged the situation in an internal memo on 1 December 2025, calling it a "code red" and stating that the company is at a "critical time" and has "more work to do to improve the day-to-day experience."

While this internal concern at OpenAI grows, many users are noticing that alternative AI tools are rapidly gaining ground, outperforming ChatGPT in key areas like writing, searching, and media generation.

1. Writing: Claude by Anthropic

Claude, developed by Anthropic, has made significant strides with its Claude 4.5-Opus model, offering notable improvements over previous versions. Users report that Claude excels in tasks such as:

• Recreating writing styles: Claude is able to effectively mimic different writing tones and styles.
• Understanding long contexts: The model processes extended text better, maintaining coherence throughout.
• Incorporating writing techniques and psychological insights: Claude appears to be better at incorporating subtle nuances in writing, making it a strong alternative for content creation.

These enhancements make Claude a strong competitor to ChatGPT in writing tasks.

2. Searching: Grok

Grok, an AI tool integrated with X (formerly Twitter), has gained attention for its superior search capabilities. Grok outperforms both ChatGPT and other search tools like Perplexity when it comes to finding detailed, information on current events. 

Users asking ChatGPT and Perplexity say it offered shallow answers, while Grok was able to provide a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Grok’s connection to X allows it to access real-time, dynamic discussions, making it a valuable tool for up-to-date, nuanced searches. Additionally, Grok is tied to Grokipedia, an open-source alternative to Wikipedia, providing even more sources for fact-checking and detailed information.

3. Media Creation: Gemini and Nano Banana

While ChatGPT can generate images and videos, Google's Gemini and other tools have become more competitive in this area.

• Gemini 3 is recognised for its advanced image-generation capabilities. It consistently delivers high-quality results, from professional infographics to realistic portraits.
• Nano Banana Pro has emerged as one of the top tools for image generation, praised for its ability to create detailed, visually impressive results.

For video creation, Veo-3.1 from Gemini , the tool allows users to select the first and last frames of a video, and the AI generates the content in between, offering a unique approach to video creation by simulating a storyboard-like process.

These tools have advanced to the point where they offer bettermedia creation capabilities compared to ChatGPT.

4. Conclusion: The Shift Towards Specialist AI Tools

The decline in ChatGPT’s web traffic and the rise of new alternatives like Claude, Grok, and Gemini suggest a shift in the landscape of AI tools. These alternatives are rapidly gaining ground, offering more specialised and advanced capabilities in areas such as writing, searching, and media creation.

As AI continues to evolve, users now have access to a broader range of tools that can be more effective for specific tasks. 

Have you started to use different AI for different tasks?