| On February 28, 2026, OpenAI announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy its AI models on the Pentagon's classified networks. Following the announcement, a global user backlash erupted. | 2026年2月28日,OpenAI宣布与美国国防部达成合作伙伴关系,将其AI模型部署在五角大楼的机密网络上。消息公布后,一场全球性的用户抵制风暴爆发。 |
| According to data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, uninstalls of the ChatGPT mobile app in the United States surged by 295% compared to the previous day. The average daily uninstall rate over the previous 30 days was only around 9%. | 根据市场情报公司Sensor Tower的数据,美国ChatGPT移动应用程序的卸载量较前一日暴增295%。此前30天的平均日卸载率仅为9%左右。 |
| User dissatisfaction was also reflected in app ratings. One-star reviews for ChatGPT skyrocketed by 775% on February 28, while five-star reviews plummeted by 50% during the same period. | 用户的不满也体现在应用评分上。2月28日,ChatGPT的一星评价激增775%,而同期的五星评价则骤降50%。 |
| In contrast, downloads of Anthropic's Claude app surged by 51%, propelling it to the top of the free app charts on the U.S. App Store and in six other countries including Canada and Germany. | 相比之下,Anthropic旗下Claude应用的下载量猛增51%,推动其登顶美国App Store以及加拿大、德国等六国的免费应用排行榜榜首。 |
| The immediate trigger was OpenAI's decision to sign a contract with the Pentagon, reportedly worth up to $200 million, shortly after its competitor Anthropic had publicly refused a similar deal due to ethical concerns over surveillance and autonomous weapons. | 直接的导火索是OpenAI在竞争对手Anthropic因监控和自主武器等伦理问题公开拒绝类似交易后,迅速与五角大楼签署了一份据称最高价值2亿美元的合同。 |
| OpenAI CEO Sam Altman later apologized on social media, admitting the announcement was “speculative and hasty” and promising to add strict clauses to prohibit the use of its systems for surveillance of U.S. citizens. | OpenAI首席执行官萨姆·阿尔特曼随后在社交媒体上道歉,承认此次宣布“投机且草率”,并承诺增加严格条款,禁止其系统用于监控美国公民。 |
| Analysts point out that the backlash highlights a fundamental shift in the AI industry: ethical positioning and trust have become critical competitive differentiators alongside technical capabilities, directly influencing consumer choices and market dynamics. | 分析人士指出,此次抵制凸显了AI行业的根本性转变:伦理定位和信任已成为与技术能力同等重要的关键竞争差异点,直接影响了消费者的选择和市场动态。 |
| The “QuitGPT” grassroots campaign claims to have gathered 2.5 million signatures, urging users to cancel ChatGPT and switch to alternatives like Claude. This organized consumer activism represents a new phase where end users directly influence corporate decisions through adoption patterns. | “QuitGPT”草根运动声称已收集到250万个签名,敦促用户取消ChatGPT并转向Claude等替代品。这种有组织的消费者行动主义代表了一个新阶段,即终端用户通过使用模式直接影响企业决策。 |
| Beyond consumer sentiment, OpenAI faces internal dissent. Several employees have publicly voiced support for Anthropic's stance and questioned the company's decision, indicating alignment challenges between management, staff, and users on controversial partnerships. | 除了消费者情绪,OpenAI还面临内部异议。数名员工公开声援Anthropic的立场并质疑公司的决定,这表明在争议性合作上,管理层、员工和用户之间存在协调挑战。 |
| This incident may force AI companies to reevaluate their partnership strategies, particularly with government and military entities, as transparency and ethical frameworks become paramount to maintaining user trust and market position. | 这一事件可能迫使AI公司重新评估其合作伙伴战略,特别是与政府和军事实体的合作,因为透明度和伦理框架对于维持用户信任和市场地位变得至关重要。 |