Network analysis data indicates that ChatGPT’s once-dominant position in the global web sector is under increasing pressure, with its market share experiencing a notable decline. By January 2026, its traffic share had fallen to 64.5%, representing a significant drop of roughly 20 percentage points compared to January 2025. In contrast, Google’s Gemini has secured a market share exceeding 20%, while xAI’s Grok is showing strong growth momentum. Meanwhile, the market shares of other AI tools have remained relatively stable. The data also highlights that seasonal factors exert a certain influence on the usage patterns of AI tools. The primary driver behind ChatGPT’s waning popularity stems from the continuous enhancement of its competitors’ capabilities. For example, Claude Code demonstrates superior performance in tackling complex coding tasks, and Gemini excels in generating AI-driven images. In response to this competitive landscape, OpenAI is cautiously exploring the possibility of introducing an advertising strategy. However, it faces challenges in the implementation phase, as there are concerns that embedded advertisements could alienate core users and accelerate user attrition.