Google’s Gemini AI hits 350 million users as antitrust case builds

Google’s Gemini AI chatbot has experienced a rapid surge in users, crossing the 350 million mark by March 2025, a development now under close scrutiny in a U.S. antitrust case targeting the tech giant’s business practices.

Details of Gemini’s growth were revealed during an ongoing trial that has put Google’s dominance in both the search engine and AI sectors under the spotlight.

From just nine daily active users in October 2024, Gemini’s user base soared in a matter of months.

This sharp rise is largely due to Google’s strategy of embedding Gemini into widely used platforms. Gemini now comes pre-installed on Samsung smartphones, is integrated into Google Workspace tools, and is available on the Chrome browser.

These partnerships have made the chatbot easily accessible to users across the globe.

An agreement between Google and Samsung has played a major role in this expansion.

The two-year deal includes monthly payments and ad revenue sharing, allowing Samsung devices to feature Gemini out of the box.

Internal files submitted during the court hearings show Google had explored even more binding distribution models, including arrangements that would have required partners to install Gemini alongside Search and Chrome.

Despite its massive growth, Gemini still lags behind leading AI chatbots in terms of user numbers. OpenAI’s ChatGPT reportedly had around 600 million monthly users by March 2025, while Meta’s AI assistant had close to 500 million.

The way Google has expanded Gemini has raised concern among U.S. and EU regulators, who fear that these strategies could extend Google's already large presence in the search market into the AI field.

The U.S. Department of Justice argues that such moves might shut out competition in the fast-growing chatbot space.

European regulators are also looking into whether Google’s deal with Samsung is limiting the chances of competing AI assistants to operate freely on Samsung devices.

These inquiries come amid broader efforts to ensure fair competition in the technology market.

In reaction to the rising pressure, Google has proposed a new plan that would allow greater freedom for partners in the U.S.

The company has suggested a three-year period during which it would not require device makers to include Gemini Assistant, nor make it the default search tool.

Still, U.S. officials are pushing for more serious changes.

The Department of Justice has proposed options that include forcing Google to license its search data to other companies and even breaking up parts of its business, such as the Chrome browser