Generative AI Apps See Explosive Growth in Downloads and Revenue in H1 2025

Generative AI apps saw significant growth in the first half of 2025, with 1.7 billion downloads and a doubling of in-app revenue to $1.87 billion. Users spent 15.6 billion hours on these apps, a jump from 8.5 billion hours in the previous period. Asia led in downloads with a 42.6% market share, while North America led in in-app purchases. ChatGPT was the leading app for in-app revenue in most countries and users spent an average of 12 days per month using the app.

Generative AI apps witnessed remarkable growth in the first half of 2025, according to a report from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. The report indicates that users downloaded these apps 1.7 billion times, a significant increase from the 1 billion downloads in the second half of 2024. In-app revenue doubled, reaching $1.87 billion in H1 2025, compared to $932 million in H2 2024. Users spent a total of 15.6 billion hours on these apps, up from 8.5 billion hours in the previous period, across 426 billion sessions [1].

Asia was the fastest-growing market for Gen AI apps, with a 42.6% market share in downloads, largely driven by markets like India and Mainland China. This region saw an 80% growth in downloads in H1 2025 compared to 51% in Europe and 39% in North America. While North America led in in-app purchases, Latin America registered the highest growth in in-app purchases for Gen AI apps [1].

ChatGPT, the leading app for in-app revenue in most countries, was particularly notable. Users spent an average of 12 days per month using the app, indicating its high "stickiness." The app's usage patterns are now more akin to those of Google, with users relying on it for various purposes beyond work. The report also highlights that more than a third of prompts used on ChatGPT in Q2 2025 were related to lifestyle and entertainment [1].

Nebius Group, a neocloud provider, also saw significant growth in 2025. The company reported robust year-over-year revenue growth of 462% in 2024, driven by its next-generation cloud platform designed for AI and machine learning. Nebius is projecting notable revenue growth and achieving breakeven on an adjusted EBITDA basis by year's end. The company aims to achieve annualized run-rate revenue of $750 million to $1 billion by the end of 2025 [2].

The AI industry's growth is evident, with investors seeking additional exposure to AI stocks. However, potential investors should be cautious, as Nebius Group is an unprofitable company with higher risk. While the company's prospects are promising, investors should consider the risks involved before making investment decisions.

References:
[1] https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/30/gen-ai-apps-doubled-their-revenue-grew-to-1-7b-downloads-in-first-half-of-2025/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/where-nebius-group-1-100000129.html