Anthropic’s Claude rises to No. 1 in the App Store following Pentagon dispute

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Anthropic’s chatbot Claude appears to possess benefited from the attention around the firm’s fraught negotiations with the Pentagon.

As first reported by CNBC, Claude has been rising to the top of the free app rankings in Apple’s US App Store. On Saturday evening, it overtook OpenAI’s ChatGPT to enlighten the number one dwelling, a dwelling that it quiet held on Sunday morning.

In keeping with data from SensorTower, Claude changed into honest begin air the top 100 on the halt of January, and has spent most of February someplace in the top 20. It’s climbed impulsively prior to now few days, from sixth on Wednesday, to fourth on Thursday, then first on Saturday.

A firm spokesperson stated that on each day foundation signups possess damaged the all-time file each day this week, free users possess elevated greater than 60% since January, and paid subscribers possess greater than doubled this year.

After Anthropic attempted to negotiate for safeguards fighting the Department of Protection from using its AI fashions for mass domestic surveillance or completely self enough weapons, President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to pause using all Anthropic merchandise and Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth stated he’s designating the firm a provide-chain menace.

OpenAI subsequently launched its possess settlement with the Pentagon, which CEO Sam Altman claimed entails safeguards linked to domestic surveillance and self enough weapons.

This put up changed into first published on February 28, 2026. It has been up so a long way to bear Anthropic reaching No. 1, and to encompass boost numbers from the firm.

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