The Sensor Tower’s State of Mobile 2026 report highlights that ChatGPT dominated the mobile AI app market in 2025, outperforming all competitors with record downloads. While social media apps saw an 11% drop in downloads, AI app downloads surged by an impressive 148%. ChatGPT led the genre, generating $3.4 billion in in-app purchases (IAP), making it the third highest-grossing app, after TikTok and Google One. In total, global spending on AI apps rose 254%, reaching $4.3 billion. The report indicates a critical shift towards mobile AI, with over 200 million users in the U.S. accessing generative AI, primarily through mobile devices. Despite this growth, a PwC survey revealed that many CEOs are not seeing the expected financial benefits of AI, potentially impacting future business spending on these platforms. For businesses, leveraging mobile-friendly generative AI features will be crucial for success going forward.
