New data from Appfigures shows a significant wave of AI-driven app launches in 2026, suggesting generative AI is fueling a mobile software renaissance.

Anthropic's Claude app has overtaken ChatGPT in U.S. daily downloads and is seeing explosive growth in daily active users — reaching 11.3 million on March 2 — as consumers rally behind the company after its refusal to allow AI use in mass domestic surveillance.

U.S. ChatGPT uninstalls jumped 295% day-over-day after OpenAI's Pentagon deal was announced, while Anthropic's Claude surged to the top of the U.S. App Store as users switched platforms over AI ethics concerns.

Following the high-profile dispute with the Pentagon, Anthropic's AI chatbot, Claude, has seen a surge in popularity, climbing to the number two spot in Apple's U.S. App Store.

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek's app has become the most downloaded on Apple's App Store, overtaking OpenAI's ChatGPT, following the release of its new open-source model, DeepSeek R1.