ChatGPT seems to be losing its appeal among top Silicon Valley figures. Many are now turning to other AI solutions from companies like Google, Anthropic, and Elon Musk's xAI. This shift marks a significant change in the competitive AI landscape.
Jason Calacanis Cancels OpenAI Subscription
Jason Calacanis, a well-known American angel investor and entrepreneur, has made a bold move. He officially canceled his firm's corporate subscription to OpenAI's services. The subscription cost about $10,000 per year.
Calacanis explained his decision clearly. He pointed to two main reasons. First, he feels ChatGPT's performance has stagnated. Second, he lacks trust in how OpenAI handles corporate data.
"Cancelled our corporate OpenAI account today; We were spending ~ $10k a year," Calacanis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added, "ChatGPT isn't keeping up imo — and I don't trust them with my corporate data. Long game, but I think ChatGPT is 4th place now." Calacanis is also an early-stage investor and co-host of the popular All-In podcast.
Three AI Alternatives Outperform ChatGPT
Calacanis named three AI chatbot models he considers superior to OpenAI's offering. He highlighted specific strengths for each.
- xAI: He praised it for providing "real-time data," which gives it an edge in current information.
- Google Gemini: Calacanis noted its excellence in travel information, local details, and integration with YouTube.
- Anthropic's Claude: He commended its ability to handle corporate workflows effectively, especially with features like Cowork and Project.
"xAI is better for real time data, Gemini is better for travel, local YouTube and Claude AI is much better for corporate," Calacanis stated. This detailed comparison shows a growing preference for specialized AI tools over a one-size-fits-all approach.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Switches to Gemini 3
Calacanis is not alone in moving away from ChatGPT. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has also made a switch. Benioff was a daily user of ChatGPT for three years. After a two-hour trial of Google's newly released Gemini 3, he decided to make a permanent change.
Soon after Gemini 3 launched last year, Benioff expressed his amazement on X. "Holy shit. I've used ChatGPT every day for 3 years. Just spent 2 hours on Gemini 3. I'm not going back," he wrote.
Benioff described the improvements as dramatic. He called the leap in reasoning, speed, and multimodal capabilities "insane." "The leap is insane — reasoning, speed, images, video... everything is sharper and faster. It feels like the world just changed, again," he added. This endorsement from a high-profile CEO underscores the competitive pressure on OpenAI.
AI Sector Faces Peak Volatility
This trend comes during a period of high volatility in the AI sector. Google's Gemini 3 is starting to erode OpenAI's once-dominant market share. The defections by influential leaders like Calacanis and Benioff signal a broader shift.
Investors and users are now evaluating AI tools more critically. They seek better performance, enhanced features, and stronger data security. The race for AI supremacy is intensifying, with multiple players vying for the top spot.
As Silicon Valley embraces alternatives, ChatGPT must innovate to regain its charm. The competition promises to drive advancements, benefiting users with more powerful and reliable AI solutions.
