ChatGPT rivals closing the gap: Google Gemini, Grok, and Meta AI

ChatGPT rivals like Google's Gemini and xAI's Grok are catching up, according to a16z's latest AI report. The report, in its fifth iteration, showcases two and a half years of data about consumers' evolving use of AI products. Google gained four spots on the list of top gen AI consumer web products with entries for Gemini, AI Studio, NotebookLM, and Google Labs. ChatGPT remains the most popular AI chatbot, but Gemini is closing the gap on mobile devices.

The AI landscape is experiencing significant shifts, with Google's Gemini and xAI's Grok making notable strides in the consumer market, according to the latest report from venture firm Andressen Horowitz (a16z). The report, in its fifth iteration, provides insights into the evolving use of AI products over the past two and a half years.

Google has secured four spots on the list of top generative AI consumer web products, with entries for Gemini, AI Studio, NotebookLM, and Google Labs. This growth is reflected in the increasing adoption of Gemini on mobile devices, where it has nearly half the monthly active users of ChatGPT, the leading AI chatbot. Gemini's strong presence on Android, with nearly 90% of its monthly active users, is particularly notable.

xAI's Grok, another significant contender, has seen rapid growth. It ranked fourth on the web and 23rd on mobile, with a user base that has grown from zero standalone app users at the end of 2024 to over 20 million monthly active users by July 2025. The release of Grok 4 in July 2025 contributed to this growth, with a 40% increase in users.

The report also highlights the challenges faced by Meta AI, which ranked 46th on the web but did not make the list of top mobile AI apps. Meta's general assistant faced backlash due to a public posting issue, which may have impacted its rankings.

Other notable entries include Chinese AI makers such as Quark, Doubao, and Kimi, which have seen significant growth in the web market. Seven additional Chinese companies have exported their AI technology globally, contributing to the diversity of AI products available to consumers.

The report underscores the competitive nature of the AI market, with multiple players vying for dominance. Google's and xAI's gains signal a shift in the market dynamics, with consumers increasingly adopting a variety of AI products for different purposes, from general assistance to image and video editing.

References:
[1] https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/27/google-and-grok-are-catching-up-to-chatgpt-says-a16zs-latest-ai-report/
[2] https://au.pcmag.com/ai/112757/musks-xai-sues-apple-openai-for-depriving-grok-of-ai-prompt-volume