India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0 since its launch last week, OpenAI said on Thursday. However, third-party data reviewed by TechCrunch points to a more measured global response, with limited overall growth alongside sharp spikes in select emerging markets.
ChatGPT Images 2.0, OpenAI’s latest image-generation upgrade, is designed to handle more complex prompts and produce detailed visuals, including accurate text across multiple languages. Early patterns from the company suggest users — especially in India, its largest market — are using it to create personal visuals such as avatars, stylized portraits, and fantasy-themed images.
Data shared by Sensor Tower and Similarweb with TechCrunch suggests the rollout has led to a more mixed global response. ChatGPT’s app downloads rose 11% week-over-week following the launch, per Sensor Tower, but overall engagement gains were modest, with daily active users and sessions up only around 1%. Similarweb data also shows a limited increase in ChatGPT’s global web traffic, rising about 1.6% week-over-week during the same period.
However, Sensor Tower data indicates some emerging markets — including Pakistan, Vietnam, and Indonesia — saw sharper spikes in ChatGPT’s app downloads, with increases of up to 79% week-over-week during the rollout period.
India, meanwhile, remained a major source of activity during the rollout. Sensor Tower estimates show ChatGPT was downloaded about 5 million times in India during the launch week, compared with roughly 2 million in the U.S., though growth remained modest on a week-over-week basis. Similarweb data also points to a limited uptick in engagement, with daily active users in India rising about 3.4% week-over-week during the same period.
In India, the early trends suggest ChatGPT Images 2.0 is largely being used as a form of self-expression. Rather than purely functional outputs, users are creating studio-style portraits from everyday photos, social media-ready images, and imaginative visuals that place themselves at the center, OpenAI said.
The early patterns also highlight how AI image tools are being adopted differently across markets. While India’s large user base is driving overall scale, sharper spikes in countries like Pakistan and Indonesia point to stronger new-user demand in emerging markets following the launch.
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OpenAI’s Images 2.0 launch comes amid intensifying competition in AI image generation. Google’s earlier image-focused model, the original Nano Banana, also saw strong early traction in India, indicating how the nation has become an important market for image generation.
With the new ChatGPT Images release, OpenAI is pushing further with improvements such as better rendering of non-Latin text, including Hindi and Bengali, and new “thinking” capabilities that allow it to refine outputs and generate multiple variations from a single prompt.
Beyond stylized portraits and avatars, OpenAI said early Images 2.0 users in India are experimenting with a wider range of formats — from fantasy newspaper covers to tarot-style visuals and fashion moodboards. Users are also using the AI tool to restore older photos and create cinematic portrait collages, the company said, suggesting early patterns of more personal use.
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The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against betrayal from some of his cabinet members and some governors within the ruling party.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele made it known that some of the governors in the ruling party are planning to work with former Vice President Abubakar Atiku towards the 2027 presidential election.
He made it known that some top members of the President’s cabinet will also work with the former Vice President.
He also said that Atiku is working with United States politicians.
Primate Ayodele said: “Atiku is planning seriously with the support of America to get victory. He will do a lot of things, and Tinubu shouldn’t be surprised that some governors he believes will work with Atiku secretly. Some members of his cabinet will work with Atiku secretly.”
Furthermore, Primate Ayodele revealed that INEC isn’t ready to conduct a credible election. But according to him, the date of the election isn’t good enough for a credible poll to hold in Nigeria.
Primate Ayodele said the election will be marred by violence and disappointment.
The cleric said that there will be consequences if the election is held on the said date.
He said: “INEC isn’t ready to do credible election, it can be marred with violence and disappointment. The day isn’t yet properly in order for an election that will bring a right president. There will be serious violence and inconclusive results in some states.
"The date isn’t too certain and there will be consequences if it is done. There will be fake ballot papers, and rigging will be the order of the day. INEC will also play their own part.”
Continuing, Primate Ayodele asked the President to do something urgently about the economic situation of the country because it will affect a lot of things.
“The economy hardship will fight harder, and the strategy to fight it isn’t sustainable. Tinubu cannot do this alone; his ministers ought to do something about it, and I see inflation will start rising significantly, and people will not be happy with this. Tinubu should quickly do something about it. They may feel it is not necessary but time will tell," he added.
Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike has taunted the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, saying the former Anambra State governor can only win the coming election on social media.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday, Wike said he would vote for Obi if the election were to choose a social media president but insisted that the NDC candidate could not govern Nigeria.
“Truly speaking, I give Obi president of social media. If you were voting for the president of social media, I would vote for him,” he said.
Wike also described Obi as a stingy politician whom the country's economy cannot be entrusted to.
DAILY POST reports that the Minister, who is heading the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign in Abuja and Rivers has always criticized Obi and other candidates.
He had also expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would be re-elected in the January 16 election, dismissing the chances of the opposition.