Meta has virtually no AI users compared to OpenAI's 900M, says Big Technology's Kantrowitz

March 16, 2026 - 01:52

A new analysis highlights the immense gap between Meta's artificial intelligence aspirations and the current market reality dominated by OpenAI. According to Alex Kantrowitz, founder of Big Technology, Meta has "virtually no AI users" when compared to the staggering scale of its rival.

The core of the argument centers on user adoption. Kantrowitz points to OpenAI's ChatGPT, which reportedly boasts approximately 900 million weekly active users. This figure underscores ChatGPT's position as a mainstream consumer product and a global phenomenon. In stark contrast, despite significant investment and integration of AI features like its Meta AI assistant across apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta has yet to demonstrate a comparable level of dedicated user engagement for its AI offerings.

The critique suggests that while Meta possesses vast infrastructure and a massive built-in user base, translating that into a leading, discrete AI product experience remains a significant challenge. The company's strategy of weaving AI into existing social platforms differs fundamentally from OpenAI's approach with a standalone, conversational interface. This analysis raises questions about whether Meta's current path can generate the same level of user enthusiasm and habitual use that has propelled ChatGPT to its remarkable scale, marking a pivotal moment for the social media giant's AI ambitions.