User spending goes up by more than 4000% on AI-powered apps

Given the rising interest in generative AI tools like text-based ChatGPT and image-based Midjourney, AI-powered apps are growing in numbers and popularity in both app stores. A report by analytics firm Apptopia suggests that 158 AI Chatbot apps -- with the description having keywords like "AI Chat" or "AI Chatbot" -- hit the app stores in the first quarter of this year. The data suggests that multiple apps like Nova AI, Genie AI and Chat with Ask AI have broken into top charts in app stores -- a lot of these apps are similarly named, so it's easy to get confused between them. At the time of writing, Chat with Ask AI is on the top 10 free apps list on iOS in multiple countries. Apptopia mentions in the report that developers are trying to convert AI chatbot tech, which is easily available on a web browser, into a native mobile experience and charging money for it.