Sensor Tower has released its 2026 AI market report, outlining how the global AI sector is shifting from an early breakout phase into a more competitive and commercial market. The study looks at the rise of AI since 2023 and frames the industry as part of a broader digital economy built around consumer adoption, app activity and monetization.

A central takeaway is that ChatGPT remains one of the defining products in the space. The report presents ChatGPT as a key benchmark for AI apps, even as the category expands and matures. That makes its position especially important for understanding how user attention is being distributed across the wider AI ecosystem.

At the same time, competition is broadening. Sensor Tower highlights rivals including Google Gemini and DeepSeek, showing that the AI app market is no longer centered on a single service. The report suggests that the race now involves not just technical capability, but also reach, retention and the ability to turn AI usage into sustainable business.

The yearbook also points to AI's growing place in the wider app economy, placing AI services alongside major digital platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram when discussing audience scale and engagement. Overall, the report describes a market where AI is moving deeper into mainstream consumer behavior while opening up new commercial opportunities across the global digital economy.