The internet’s rise and ChatGPT’s lightning-fast growth both tell the same story: when an innovation makes life easier, adoption is inevitable.

Thus, looking at how technology becomes part of ordinary people’s lives can offer valuable insights.

Internet vs. ChatGPT: The Race to 300 Million Users

In the past three decades, two groundbreaking technologies have significantly shaped the way we live and work: the internet and ChatGPT. While both reached massive user bases, the speed at which they hit 300 million users reveals just how quickly the world is adopting new innovations.

Let’s dive into how these two technological marvels entered the lives of ordinary people, the pivotal role Microsoft played in both cases, and how ChatGPT’s indirect integrations may position it as one of the greatest innovations in history.

The Internet’s Steady Climb to 300 Million Users

The internet’s journey to mass adoption was slow and steady. In 1995, only about 16 million people were connected to the web. With the increasing availability of personal computers, dial-up internet connections, and early browsers like Netscape and Internet Explorer, the internet’s growth began to accelerate.

It took until the year 2000 for the internet to reach 361 million users, marking a five-year journey to mass adoption.

Despite its revolutionary potential, the internet’s early growth was hampered by slow dial-up modems, costly PCs, and the overall unfamiliarity of “going online.” For the average person, the internet was a new frontier, and it took time for its value to be fully understood.

ChatGPT’s Rocket-Fueled Growth to 300 Million

On the other hand, ChatGPT, launched by OpenAI in December 2022, reached milestones at an astonishing speed. Within just two months, it skyrocketed to 100 million active users. By September 2024, it had hit 200 million weekly active users, and projections suggest it could reach 400 million by 2025.

Direct users

This rapid rise highlights a major shift in how quickly people adopt technologies that make their lives easier. ChatGPT’s ability to assist with tasks such as writing, coding, and content creation — combined with its simple, conversational interface — made it highly accessible and useful across industries.

If we were to look at the “AI revolution” in terms of the internet era and ask, “What year are we in?” we would probably say it’s 1999–2000. From this perspective, it’s safe to say that we are still at the very beginning of everything.

Microsoft’s Role: A Key Player in Both Stories

In both the rise of the internet and ChatGPT, Microsoft played a crucial role in accelerating adoption.

• In the 1990s, Microsoft bundled Internet Explorer with Windows, exposing millions of users to the internet by default. This integration made it easier for the average person to begin using the web, boosting early internet adoption.
• In 2023, Microsoft invested heavily in OpenAI and integrated ChatGPT into popular products like Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and its cloud platform Azure. By embedding ChatGPT into everyday productivity tools, Microsoft gave millions of people access to advanced AI without needing to visit OpenAI’s website directly.

This strategic involvement underscores a key principle: When an innovation makes daily life easier, it grows at an unstoppable pace. Just as Internet Explorer made web browsing mainstream, ChatGPT’s integration into familiar software has supercharged its adoption.

ChatGPT’s Potential to Be One of the Greatest Innovations Ever

While the internet transformed how we communicate and access information, ChatGPT is poised to become a transformative force in how we perform cognitive tasks. It’s not just about retrieving information, but creating, analyzing, and enhancing work across various industries.

• The internet connected us, but ChatGPT enhances us. It helps users write, code, brainstorm ideas, and automate repetitive tasks, making them more efficient and productive.
• With the ongoing embedding of ChatGPT into everyday products — such as smartphones, office software, and cloud services — its impact will continue to grow exponentially.

As AI becomes an invisible helper in everyday tools, ChatGPT has the potential to be just as essential as the internet was in its early days. Its rapid growth through direct and indirect use means it could easily become one of the most important innovations of our time.

AI in Popular Culture and Its Role in Mass Adoption

AI’s presence in popular culture has played a key role in its rapid adoption. Films like “Her”, where AI becomes an integral part of daily life, have helped shape the public’s perception of AI as something personal and useful. Characters like Samantha from “Her” made AI feel relatable, sparking curiosity and reducing fear or resistance toward the technology.

This exposure has allowed tools like ChatGPT to be embraced more readily, as people were already familiar with the idea of interacting with AI. Popular culture has made AI feel accessible, fueling its mass adoption.