Three years ago, ChatGPT was launched with little fanfare. Today, it stands at the center of a global AI transformation.
TLDR
- ChatGPT launched on November 30, 2022, and quickly became a cultural and technological phenomenon.
- It reshaped how people search, learn, and use the internet, becoming a key player in online behavior.
- Its rise fueled a massive AI-driven stock market surge, particularly benefiting companies like Nvidia and Microsoft.
- Experts are divided between optimism and warnings of an AI bubble, likening it to the dot-com era.
What Happened?
ChatGPT, launched by OpenAI on November 30, 2022, began as a conversational AI model. Within five days, it hit one million users. Three years later, it continues to dominate app charts and has become a key entry point to the digital world. It did not replace the internet, but it fundamentally reorganized it.
ChatGPT’s Sudden Rise and Widespread Impact
It started with a tweet from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. What seemed like a digital curiosity quickly became a cornerstone of how millions of people interact with the web.
- Within days, ChatGPT attracted over a million users, stunning even its creators.
- Today, it remains the number one free app on Apple’s App Store, showing its enduring popularity.
- Rather than acting as a traditional search engine or browser, ChatGPT transformed how people discover, research, and decide online. It has effectively replaced parts of the internet’s core use cases with AI-driven interactions.
ChatGPT was launched three years ago today.
— Similarweb (@Similarweb) November 30, 2025
It is now the 5th most-visited website in the world, averaging 173M daily visits with 120% year-over-year traffic growth this year. pic.twitter.com/lvEeH05PBs
The tool that once felt like a party trick is now the default starting point for students, professionals, and casual users alike. It changed how we ask questions, how we write, and even how we think.
A Catalyst for AI Adoption
ChatGPT’s success was not isolated. It sparked a wave of generative AI products, reshaping entire industries.
- Google was forced to rethink its core offerings, adapting quickly to keep up.
- Platforms like YouTube remain dominant, but user behavior has shifted due to how ChatGPT influences content exploration.
Author Charlie Warzel described the situation bluntly in The Atlantic, saying we now live in “the world ChatGPT built,” one marked by uncertainty and rapid change. From college graduates to mid-career professionals, many now question whether their skills will remain relevant in an AI-accelerated future.
Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI, noted in an interview that OpenAI has become more powerful than most nation-states, adding that it is “rewiring our geopolitics, all of our lives.”
Big Tech’s Big Gains
While individuals navigate uncertainty, tech giants have cashed in on the AI boom driven by ChatGPT.
- Nvidia’s stock soared 979% since ChatGPT’s launch.
- Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Broadcom also saw huge gains.
- These seven companies now account for 35% of the S&P 500’s total market cap, compared to just 20% three years ago.
In total, these firms were responsible for nearly half of the S&P 500’s 64% growth since ChatGPT appeared, showing just how central AI has become to market dynamics.
Bubble or Breakthrough?
Despite this explosive growth, many in the AI community warn of a bubble.
Bret Taylor, chair of OpenAI’s board and CEO of Sierra, echoed this view. He acknowledged the similarities to the dot-com bubble but added that even if some companies fail, “AI will transform the economy” just as the internet once did.
Whether the next three years will prove this true remains to be seen.
Daily Research News Takeaway
I think what we are seeing is one of the rare moments in tech where a tool genuinely changed how people interact with the world. ChatGPT went from a demo to a daily habit for millions, reshaping education, business, and entertainment. The numbers are stunning, the cultural impact undeniable. Still, I am cautious. The hype is real, but so are the risks. This feels like a turning point, but like all major shifts, the real outcomes will only be clear in hindsight.
