TechCrunch just updated their comprehensive ChatGPT guide with the latest developments, covering everything from new parental controls following teen suicide lawsuits to GPT-5's launch and the chatbot's explosive growth to 700 million weekly users. The evergreen reference piece offers readers an authoritative timeline of every major ChatGPT update throughout 2025, positioning it as the definitive resource for understanding OpenAI's AI evolution.
TechCrunch just refreshed their definitive ChatGPT guide, and the updates tell a story of explosive growth mixed with mounting safety concerns. The comprehensive timeline now captures how OpenAI's chatbot evolved from 300 million weekly users in late 2024 to nearly 700 million by August 2025 - a staggering pace that's reshaping the AI landscape.
The September additions paint a complex picture. While OpenAI celebrated launching parental controls and tighter safeguards around teen conversations, the moves came directly in response to a wrongful death lawsuit tied to alleged chatbot interactions. "The company says it will block flirtatious exchanges with minors and add stronger protections around discussions of suicide," the guide notes, highlighting how rapid growth brings unexpected responsibilities.
But it's not all about damage control. The guide showcases OpenAI's aggressive push into new territories. ChatGPT Pulse now delivers personalized morning briefings overnight, transforming the chatbot from reactive tool to proactive assistant. Even more ambitious is Instant Checkout, which lets users purchase products directly from Etsy and over a million Shopify merchants without leaving the conversation.
"The update marks a step toward reshaping online shopping by merging product discovery, recommendations, and payments in one place," TechCrunch explains, positioning OpenAI in direct competition with e-commerce giants.
The financial numbers tell their own story. ChatGPT's mobile app has generated $2 billion in global consumer spending since its May 2023 launch, including $1.35 billion this year alone - a 673% increase. According to app intelligence provider Appfigures, that's roughly 30 times more than competitors like Claude, Copilot, and Grok combined.
TechCrunch's guide also documents the technical evolution that made this growth possible. GPT-5's launch in August represented more than just better AI - it introduced dynamic "thinking" modes that let the model automatically choose between fast responses and deeper reasoning. "OpenAI released GPT-5, a next-gen AI that's not just smarter but more useful - able to handle tasks like coding apps, managing calendars, and creating research briefs," the timeline explains.
