'King of chatbots' becomes 'left behind': ChatGPT loses steam to rival Gemini

The name ChatGPT was once associated with the concept of “the first AI to change human working habits”. However, technology never stops. When other big names join the race, the situation begins to shift. And now, the name that is making the technology community stir is Google’s latest AI model Gemini 2.5 Pro, which is considered ChatGPT’s most formidable competitor to date.

An independent study conducted on a scale of more than 21,000 users in the US and UK recorded surprising results: Gemini 2.5 Pro is superior to ChatGPT in many aspects, from reliability, reasoning ability, to ease of use and ethics. This makes many people wonder: is ChatGPT "running out of steam" after a long period of domination and users are really flocking to Gemini?

1. Gemini 2.5 Pro outperforms ChatGPT in reliability and user experience

According to the survey results, the free version of Gemini 2.5 Pro is considered the most comprehensive model today. Users say it is more reliable, more user-friendly, and provides a consistent feel in the experience. In the overall satisfaction ranking, ChatGPT only ranked eighth, a position that is still respectable but clearly not as dominant as before.

This was surprising, because ChatGPT was once considered the “standard” tool in the AI ​​world. It was the platform that gave hundreds of millions of people their first exposure to artificial intelligence in the form of natural conversation. But when Google launched Gemini with multimodal understanding and processing, meaning it could work with text, images, audio, and video in the same user interface, they began to realize that AI could go further than they had ever thought.

The responses gathered in the study also showed that users appreciated Gemini 2.5 Pro not only for its power, but also for its smooth experience and consistency in every operation. Gemini's interface is designed to be minimalist, focusing on intuitiveness, while ChatGPT is sometimes considered "too academic" or lacking in seamlessness in handling images and multi-format documents.

2. Reasons for the success of Gemini 2.5 Pro

There are many reasons for the rapid rise of Gemini 2.5 Pro, but the first factor that must be mentioned is the popularity of Nano Banana : an image creation and editing tool that Google has deeply integrated into the Gemini ecosystem. Nano Banana has become the highlight of Gemini 2.5 Pro, giving users the ability to create professional images using only natural language descriptions. Not only does it create images, this tool also allows users to fine-tune details, change lighting, perspective and style easily, similar to a professional design software.

Nano Banana has helped Gemini 2.5 Pro overcome the limitations of traditional chatbots to become a multi-purpose creative platform , serving content creators, designers, educators and businesses well. When an AI tool not only “answers questions” but also “creates with you”, it easily wins the hearts of users.

In addition, Gemini is developed in the Google ecosystem, which makes it highly synchronous and compatible. With just a Google account, users can access Gemini right in Chrome, Docs or Drive, without having to install software or create a new account. This convenience is the "hidden weapon" that makes Gemini spread faster than any other competitor on the market.

3. Multimodal technology

One of the biggest differences that makes the Gemini 2.5 Pro stand out is its multimodal processing capability . This is a technology that allows AI to understand and work with many different types of data at the same time: text, images, audio, video, charts or PDF documents.

For example, you can upload a product image, ask Gemini to analyze the design style, suggest color schemes, and then move on to creating a promotional video using Veo 3. Or, more simply, you can drop in a PDF file that is dozens of pages long and Gemini will summarize the content, identify key metrics, and then present it as a presentation. The whole process is seamless without the user having to switch to another software.

While ChatGPT is also expanding its multimodal capabilities, many users surveyed said they found Gemini “more intuitive.” The experience felt more like chatting with a real assistant. This is a significant step forward, because multimodality is the future of AI: understanding not just language, but the world around us.

The Gemini 2.5 Pro is equipped with a token window of up to 1 million , allowing the AI ​​to memorize a huge amount of information in the same session. This essentially means that users can chat with the AI ​​for hours on end or type tens of thousands of words and the system will still maintain a stable inference line.

For designers, programmers, or researchers, this is a huge advantage. They can ask Gemini to review an entire project, analyze style, optimize layout, or even check long code snippets. No more “losing context” mid-way.

The large token window also opens up the potential for unprecedented human-AI collaboration. Instead of working with AI in a “question-and-answer” fashion, users can now develop ideas continuously, as if working with a partner who understands the entire project from start to finish. This is what makes Gemini so popular, not just a tool, but a “real colleague.”

4. The power of the Google ecosystem

Gemini 2.5 Pro is not only powerful because of its language model, but also because of the huge Google ecosystem behind it. With direct access to Google services such as Search, YouTube, Docs, Sheets, Drive or Maps, Gemini can provide real-time information and extremely specific results.

When users ask about the latest design trends, Gemini can pull data directly from Google Search and YouTube, analyzing thousands of sources to compile accurate and up-to-date answers. When it comes to summarizing a document, Gemini can pull information from Google Docs or Drive without requiring manual uploads. And when users want to compose an email or report, Gemini can automatically insert data into Gmail or Docs with a single command.

All of these features make Gemini a full-fledged assistant , rather than just a chatbot. It not only helps users find information, but also helps them take action.

5. Nano Banana and Veo 3

If Nano Banana is the tool that helps Gemini shine in the field of image creation, then Veo 3 is a testament to Google's ambition to conquer the field of AI video.

Veo 3 turns short descriptions into animated videos, with natural motion, effects, and music. With just a few sentences of description, users can create an impressive clip to illustrate an idea, presentation, or advertising campaign.

The combination of Nano Banana and Veo 3 turns Gemini into a true “digital creative studio”: users can brainstorm, create, produce videos, and finalize content without leaving the main interface. ChatGPT, while capable of creating images through DALL·E, still lacks the flexibility and naturalness of the tools in the Gemini ecosystem.

Thanks to that, Gemini 2.5 Pro not only attracts programmers or researchers, but also expands the user file to artists, designers, marketers and teachers.

6. Gemini's insurmountable advantage

In an era where AI is increasingly impacting our lives, ethics and trust are becoming the top criteria when choosing tools. Users are not only interested in what AI can do, but also how it does it. Gemini 2.5 Pro is highly appreciated for its strict adherence to Google's ethical standards and safe content policies.

Moderation and responsible feedback make Gemini a safe choice for parents, educators, and organizations. Many schools in the US and Europe have begun testing Gemini as a learning tool, while ChatGPT still faces barriers in some environments due to concerns about content accuracy and moderation.

Transparency in how Gemini handles user data also contributes to community trust. Google is transparent about its storage, security, and model training policies, something that many competitors remain opaque about. This trust, while difficult to measure, is a solid foundation for Gemini to maintain long-term user loyalty.

7. ChatGPT still plays an important role

Despite being considered “out of breath”, ChatGPT still has many undeniable strengths. Many loyal users affirm that ChatGPT is still the most “human-understanding” tool in the AI ​​world today. The natural tone, the ability to grasp subtle context and the creative style make ChatGPT an ideal companion for those who work in writing, programming or humanities research.

Additionally, ChatGPT has a big advantage in its Custom GPTs ecosystem . Users can create their own separate versions of ChatGPT for specific purposes such as copywriting, data analysis, design consulting, or language training. This makes ChatGPT much more flexible than Gemini, which focuses on the overall experience rather than personalization.

Another notable point is that ChatGPT still offers many free suggestions and an active creative community . Millions of users around the world share prompts, plugins, and usage tips, helping this ecosystem thrive as a culture rather than just a product.

The competition between Gemini and ChatGPT clearly reflects the reality: in the AI ​​era, strong technology is not enough, but user experience is the decisive factor. Gemini wins thanks to integration, easy-to-use interface and Google ecosystem. ChatGPT leads in creativity, natural language and personalization.

Today’s users are no longer just looking for smart tools, but also for a technology partner that makes them feel comfortable, confident, and productive. Therefore, the race between ChatGPT and Gemini is not simply about “who is smarter”, but “who keeps users engaged longer”.

The wave of users moving to Gemini 2.5 Pro is a sign that the AI ​​market is entering a period of real competition. Gemini offers cutting-edge technology, multimodal capabilities, security, and a friendly interface. Meanwhile, ChatGPT, while slowing down, remains an iconic name with a large community and unrivaled creativity. This move is not the end of ChatGPT, but a reminder that AI is constantly evolving. Each tool will find its own niche: Gemini focuses on efficiency, integration, and safety; ChatGPT focuses on creativity, language, and emotion.