The conference room was hushed, analysts whispering behind cupped hands as the numbers flashed across the screen. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd: 750 million. Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, had just shattered expectations, a meteoric rise that sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley.
Google’s AI assistant Gemini App now boasts more than 750 million monthly active users, CEO Sundar Pichai announced during parent company Alphabet’s fourth-quarter earnings call.
That’s a leap of roughly 100 million users, up from the 650 million monthly active users reported in the prior quarter. This surge happened in the brief span between earnings reports and the unveiling of Gemini 3, Google’s AI model.
“We are also seeing significantly higher engagement per user, especially since the launch of Gemini 3,” Pichai said. “[Gemini 3] has seen the fastest adoption of any model in our history.”
The Gemini 3 Effect: A Turning Point
I remember scrolling through my social feed, seeing the sudden explosion of praise for Gemini 3. Tech enthusiasts and AI aficionados were raving about its capabilities, creating a palpable buzz. It was as if Google had flipped a switch, rewriting its AI narrative practically overnight.
Google’s AI story experienced a major turnaround in mid-November thanks to Gemini 3, the company’s latest AI model. AI enthusiasts praised the capabilities of the model, with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff even admitting to converting to Gemini. Wei-Lin Chiang, cofounder of AI benchmarking firm LMArena, called the release “more than a leaderboard shuffle.”
Gemini 3 was so well-received that only a couple of weeks later, OpenAI leadership reportedly declared “code red” at the company. Even Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose company has significant business with OpenAI, reportedly raised worries over the competition Google now poses to OpenAI’s market dominance.
What makes Gemini different from other AI models?
The secret sauce of Gemini 3 lies in its architecture and training data, allowing it to process and understand information in a way that feels intuitive. The model doesn’t just spit back answers; it seems to grasp context and nuance. Its rise represents a shift in the AI landscape.
The Race to the Top: Gemini vs. ChatGPT
I’ve heard people in the industry describe the AI chatbot race as a marathon, not a sprint. Even with Gemini’s impressive growth, it still has ground to cover to overtake the reigning champion, ChatGPT.
Despite the huge jump in users for Gemini, there might still be a long way to go until it can surpass ChatGPT to become the chatbot leader. OpenAI doesn’t report regular data on ChatGPT active users, but a The Information report from December claimed that ChatGPT was nearing 900 million users weekly at the time.
Either way, Google’s catch-up effort is impressive. With high-profile launches like Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro, Google has been able to save its once-battered AI reputation following the failed launch of Gemini image generation in early 2024.
Imagine Gemini as a rapidly growing sapling, reaching for the sunlight, while ChatGPT stands as a more established tree. Both are vital, but Gemini’s growth trajectory is something to watch.
Will Gemini Eventually Overtake ChatGPT?
That remains to be seen, but Google is betting big on AI. The company plans to aggressively invest in AI development, signaling its commitment to this space.
“I think we are in a very, very relentless innovation cadence, and I think we are confident about maintaining that momentum as we go through ’26,” Pichai said in the earnings call. Executives shared that they are planning to double capital expenditures in 2026, with the majority going towards AI.
What’s Next for Gemini?
I read recently that Google isn’t just content with having Gemini on phones and laptops. They’re aiming for deeper integration, weaving AI into the fabric of our digital lives.
Google has big plans for Gemini this year. Apple recently tapped Gemini to power its AI revamp of Siri that is set to launch later this year, and Samsung announced last month that it was planning to double the amount of its Gemini-infused mobile devices. The company is also preparing to make Gemini more “shoppable” with checkout experiences infused directly into the app.
Will Gemini be free to use, or will Google start charging?
The monetization strategies are still evolving. Ads might become a part of the experience, but Google is proceeding cautiously, mindful of user experience.
You might also want to start preparing to have your Gemini chats plagued by ads, but that might still be further on the horizon.
“Ads have always been part of scaling products to reach billions of people,” Google’s chief business officer Philipp Schindler said. “But as we’ve said, we’re not rushing anything here.”
The AI revolution is well underway, and Gemini’s rapid growth is a testament to Google’s renewed focus. Will this surge continue, solidifying Gemini’s place as a dominant force, or is this just the beginning of an even more intense battle for AI supremacy?