Google’s Gemini App Surpasses 1 Billion Monthly Users

by News Editor

August 12, 2026

Google’s Gemini app has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, marking another major milestone for the company’s artificial intelligence business and making Gemini the 14th Google product to reach that level of usage.

CEO Sundar Pichai announced the milestone on Tuesday, describing Gemini as one of Google’s fastest-growing products.

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Gemini Closes The Gap With ChatGPT

The milestone puts Gemini closer to ChatGPT, which surpassed 1 billion monthly active users in June.

Google has been expanding Gemini across its ecosystem, including Search, Workspace, Android and the standalone Gemini app. The latest figure, however, applies specifically to the Gemini app and does not include users accessing Google’s AI through other products.

Google’s AI Mode in Search has also surpassed 1 billion monthly active users globally.

Voice And Image Generation Drive Usage

Google said 63% of Gemini users interact with the assistant through its voice feature. The app is also generating more than 150 million images each day, highlighting the growing use of Gemini beyond traditional text-based conversations.

Gemini’s reach also extends beyond Google’s own platforms, with the company reporting more than 100 million active users on iOS.

Google Continues Expanding Gemini

The latest milestone follows Google’s second-quarter earnings report, when the company said Gemini had more than 950 million monthly users and that daily active users had tripled over the previous year.

Google has continued to introduce new models and features, including Gemini 3.5 Flash, which is designed to improve coding and autonomous AI-agent tasks.

The company is also expected to unveil additional Gemini-powered features for Pixel devices at its upcoming Made by Google event.

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OpenAI Executive Brad Lightcap Leaves Company To Launch New Venture

by News Editor

August 12, 2026

Brad Lightcap, one of OpenAI’s longest-serving executives, is leaving the AI company to pursue a new venture after more than eight years with the organisation.

Lightcap announced his departure in a message to OpenAI employees on Tuesday, saying he was moving on to “start something new”. He did not provide details about his plans but said he would share more in the future.

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From CFO To Chief Operating Officer

Lightcap joined OpenAI in 2018 and spent four years as chief financial officer before becoming chief operating officer in 2022. In the role, he helped build and oversee teams covering finance, legal, human resources, corporate security, government and business development, as well as partnerships.

Earlier this year, OpenAI reorganised its executive structure and moved Lightcap into a role focused on special projects. Before joining OpenAI, he worked with CEO Sam Altman at venture capital firm Y Combinator.

OpenAI Faces Executive Turnover

Lightcap’s departure comes during a period of significant changes at the top of OpenAI. In July, Fidji Simo, who had served as the company’s No. 2 executive and led its AGI efforts, announced that she would step down from the role.

Several other senior executives have also left the company in recent months, including former Sora chief Bill Peebles and Kevin Weil, who previously led OpenAI’s Science division. The leadership changes come as OpenAI prepares for a potential IPO that could become one of the most significant technology listings in recent years.

Lightcap Hints At What Comes Next

In his departure message, Lightcap said he had spent recent months thinking about “the next horizon” and the challenges that could affect the success of OpenAI’s mission.

He suggested that his next project would address “important new things” the world will need to get right in the coming years, without revealing further details. Lightcap also expressed continued confidence in OpenAI, saying he believes in the company “more than ever” and plans to support its mission from a different position.

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