General purpose AI assistants such as ChatGPT are rapidly transforming from productivity tools into one of the internet’s biggest information and engagement platforms. Their explosive user growth and rising engagement levels are now opening a major opportunity for advertisers worldwide.
According to Redseer, ChatGPT crossed 100 million monthly active users in just two months after launch, faster than any major consumer internet platform in recent history. In comparison, TikTok took nine months, Instagram required 30 months, WhatsApp took 42 months and Facebook needed 54 months to reach the same milestone.
The growth in usage has been equally dramatic. Time spent on generative AI applications surged from nearly 2 to 3 billion hours in 2022 to an estimated 47 to 49 billion hours in 2025. This nearly 20 times increase highlights how AI assistants are becoming deeply integrated into everyday digital behaviour.
Unlike traditional search engines, AI assistants are increasingly being used for writing, information discovery, technical help and even purchase related queries. Writing accounts for the largest share of ChatGPT use cases at nearly 38 to 42 percent, followed by information seeking at 28 to 32 percent. Technical help and shopping related interactions are also rising steadily.
This shift is creating a completely new advertising surface. Experts believe AI assistants can influence consumers both at the discovery stage and at the decision making stage. Brands can now target users when they are researching solutions, comparing products, or asking highly specific buying questions.
For advertisers, this opens two major opportunities which are top of the funnel brand awareness and bottom of the funnel conversion driven recommendations. As AI assistants evolve into trusted digital companions, they may soon become as important for advertising as search engines and social media platforms.
