# ChatGPT

> UBS estimated 100 million monthly ChatGPT users within two months of launch.

- Owner: OpenAI
- Kind: App & software
- Sector: Technology
- Seed date: 2022-11-30
- Peak date: Week of Apr 4, 2023
- Date basis: Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 73 (Viral), v1.2
- Mechanics: Shareable output, Platform jump, Controversy, Dupe economy, Political adoption

## Summary

OpenAI released ChatGPT free, and screenshots spread on Twitter before TikTok tutorials and a South Park parody. UBS estimated 100 million monthly users by January; Italy blocked the service in March, and OpenAI reported 100 million weekly users in November.

## Timeline

- 2022-11-30 — OpenAI (Open web) — OpenAI released ChatGPT free and ran a feedback contest with a chance to win $500 in API credits.
- 2022-11-30 — Hacker News users (Open web) — Hacker News users discussed ChatGPT in a launch-day thread posted by amrrs.
- 2022-12-01 — The Verge (Press) — The Verge covered ChatGPT’s code explanations, sitcom scripts and errors.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/chatgpt

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “ChatGPT.” Case HIS-00085. Spread Score v1.2: 73/100. Updated 2026-10-13. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00085