ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini are in a close race as the most-used generative AI tools in the United States. Research by Morgan Stanley states that daily usage of generative AI has jumped to 14% among people aged 16 and above, up from 11% just six months ago.
The report reveals that around 35 million Americans use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Meta AI on a daily basis. When looking at monthly usage, each platform reaches roughly 40% of Americans aged 16 and older — equal to about 100 million users per platform. However, many users switch between or use more than one of these tools, leading to significant overlap.
Gemini has edge – Here’s why
Gemini has seen the fastest growth in the past six months. This boost is likely due to key launches, like its standalone iOS app in November 2024, the full release of Gemini 2.0 in February 2025, and the introduction of AI Overviews for search in March 2025. These steps have helped Gemini attract more attention and use across age groups.
On the commercial front, Gemini has a slight edge over ChatGPT. About 45% of Gemini users say they use it for product research, showing strong growth in recent months. Morgan Stanley notes this may be due to Google’s strong position in consumer search behavior. The report suggests Google should expand Gemini’s features further to hold onto this lead.
ChatGPT leads among young users
While Gemini grows rapidly, ChatGPT continues to lead among younger users. In the 16–24 age group, 22% use ChatGPT daily, and 68% use it monthly — much higher than Gemini and Meta AI, both of which have 5% daily and 22% monthly use among this group. However, in older age groups, usage is more balanced, with Gemini gaining ground.
Despite Gemini’s advantage in commercial use, ChatGPT is still widely used to learn new topics. Over half (52%) of ChatGPT users report using it for educational purposes, slightly ahead of Gemini’s 46%.
Younger users are also starting to use these tools more for shopping and product discovery. Among those aged 16–24, 39% use ChatGPT and 35% use Gemini to research products — both showing big jumps of 750 basis points over the past six months. The 25–34 group leads Gemini’s product-related use.
In short, ChatGPT remains the favorite among the youth, but Gemini’s fast growth and rising use in commercial settings make it a strong contender in the evolving AI race.
