Anthropic’s Claude tops App Store as some users abandon ChatGPT over OpenAI DoD deal
Mar 1st 2026
After OpenAI struck a deal with the Department of Defense, some ChatGPT users canceled and migrated to Anthropic’s Claude, pushing Claude to the top of the App Store amid continued debate over AI and military use.
- Claude became the top downloaded productivity app on Apple’s App Store after a wave of user defections from ChatGPT.
- The shift followed OpenAI’s announced agreement with the Department of Defense, posted by CEO Sam Altman.
- OpenAI says the deal bars using its models to independently direct autonomous weapons and for unconstrained domestic mass surveillance, and requires human oversight for use of force.
- Many users publicly canceled ChatGPT subscriptions and posted receipts and screenshots on X and Reddit, while others announced switches to Claude.
- Some observers noted Anthropic has prior ties to Palantir and AWS that give intelligence and defense agencies access to Claude models, so reactions are mixed.
- Anthropic says it was sidelined in Washington and intends to challenge any Department of Defense supply chain risk designation in court.