Google's Gemini 3 Boost Disrupts South Korea's AI Scene

Introduction to the Shift in South Korea’s AI Chatbot Market

Google has introduced a new artificial intelligence model called 'Gemini 3,' which has shown impressive performance and significantly impacted the AI chatbot market in South Korea. While OpenAI's ChatGPT continues to hold a dominant position in the domestic AI market, Google is making notable strides with its Gemini 3 model. On the other hand, Perplexity, a platform known for its focus on AI search, has experienced a noticeable drop in user engagement.

Performance Metrics of Key Players

According to data from IGAWorks’ Mobile Index, a company specializing in data technology, ChatGPT maintained its strong position with a weekly average of between 8,690,000 and 8,800,000 active users (WAU) during the period from November 17 to December 7, when Google launched Gemini 3. However, the number of new installations for ChatGPT decreased slightly, averaging around 200,000 to 190,000 per week.

In contrast, Gemini 3 saw a significant increase in its weekly active users, rising from approximately 16,000 to about 22,900 before stabilizing at around 21,300. The growth in new installations for Gemini 3 was even more dramatic, jumping from 50,967 in the week of November 17 to 110,000 in the following week—more than doubling. This surge in user numbers can be attributed to positive evaluations of Gemini 3's performance, which likely encouraged users to choose it over ChatGPT.

Decline of Perplexity

Meanwhile, Perplexity has faced a clear decline in both user base and new installations. Its weekly active users dropped from around 455,600 to approximately 436,500, while new installations fell from around 16,900 to about 12,100. Industry sources have noted that Google's continuous improvements to Gemini 3 could lead to further advancements in the near future.

Future Outlook

A tech industry source commented, “Google’s improvements to Gemini 3 could accelerate further,” adding, “The current ‘one-strong, many-weak’ era dominated by ChatGPT may transition into a ‘two-strong, many-weak’ landscape centered on ChatGPT and Gemini 3.” This shift suggests that the AI chatbot market in South Korea is becoming more competitive, with Google's Gemini 3 emerging as a strong contender against the long-standing leader, ChatGPT.

Summary of Market Trends

• ChatGPT: Maintained a large user base but saw a slight decrease in new installations.
• Gemini 3: Experienced rapid growth in both active users and new installations due to positive user feedback.
• Perplexity: Faced a decline in both user engagement and new downloads.

As the AI market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these trends develop and whether other players can challenge the dominance of these leading models. The introduction of Gemini 3 marks a significant step forward for Google in the AI space, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape in South Korea and beyond.