Concerns over privacy and data security have significantly swayed the usage of AI chatbots within South Korea, propelling OpenAI’s ChatGPT to unprecedented popularity as users shy away from DeepSea, which has faced scrutiny over allegations of user data mishandling.
Recent data from AIGetworks’ Mobile Index shows ChatGPT's weekly active users exceeded two million as of February 2025, marking a dramatic rise attributed directly to privacy worries associated with its competitor, DeepSea. This surge reflects not just growing popularity but also user migration spurred by heightened privacy consciousness.
Analysis indicates ChatGPT's user base began its upward trend around the end of January 2025, concurrent with the negative publicity surrounding DeepSea. Reports revealed user concerns over DeepSea's privacy practices during this period, which saw its daily active users plummet from nearly 19,000 at their peak on January 28 to just above 3,000 by February 18, illustrating the severe fallout from these criticisms.
The alleged mismanagement of user data came to the forefront after the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) identified practices at DeepSea where user data was transferred to its parent company. Following this, various government agencies initiated bans on DeepSea, prompting institutions and employees to seek alternatives, leading to ChatGPT becoming the chatbot of choice for many.
ChatGPT’s ascent demonstrates not only the effectiveness of user-driven shifts but also highlights the increasing importance of privacy and security within the rapidly-evolving AI sector. Users appear to prefer ChatGPT, which is perceived as providing safer interactions free from the data handling concerns accompanying DeepSea.
The rapid shift is underscored by the statistics: the daily user figures for ChatGPT spiked from approximately 76,000 to over 82,000 within days of the PIPC's findings about DeepSea. This momentum only accelerated, with figures reaching upwards of 85,000 shortly thereafter.
Globally, OpenAI’s ChatGPT also registered significant user growth, with approximately 400 million weekly active users reported by Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI. This figure marks a remarkable increase of 33% from December 2024, with the number of paid enterprise users also doubling since six months prior.
The competitive dynamics between ChatGPT and DeepSea reflect broader themes within the AI industry today, where user awareness, privacy concerns, and responsive governance increasingly dictate market trends. There's little doubt the attention to data security will shape the future of how these technologies develop and are utilized across the globe.
While the explosive growth of ChatGPT suggests substantial public demand for AI solutions, it is equally imperative for service providers to prioritize user privacy. Failure to do so could not only jeopardize user trust but also lead to competitive disadvantages as seen with DeepSea, whose once-promising usage rapidly diminished due to lapses in data security protocols.
With continued innovation and frequent changes to regulatory landscapes, AI systems face mounting pressure to align with the rapidly growing expectations of privacy and ethical handling of user data. For many users today, the safety of their information continues to eclipse the mere functionality offered by these platforms.
Looking forward, the developments will be closely observed as both users and companies alike navigate this complex terrain, balancing the demand for advanced AI capabilities with the undeniable necessity for stringent privacy protections.