Chat Assistants: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Meta AI — 2026-10-23
Microsoft Copilot expanded its model library with GPT-6.1 and Claude 5.5, while a major outage disrupted ChatGPT and other AI services globally. Meanwhile, new market data reveals Gemini narrowing the gap with ChatGPT in web traffic, and API pricing adjustments are set to take effect in early December.
Chat Assistants: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Meta AI — 2026-10-23
Top developments
Microsoft Copilot adds GPT-6.1 and Claude 5.5
Microsoft introduced eight new features to Copilot this October, most notably granting Copilot Premium subscribers access to GPT-6.1 and Claude 5.5 models. This expansion allows users to select specific models for complex analysis and document understanding within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, enhancing flexibility for enterprise users.
Global AI Outage Disrupts Millions of Users
On October 20, 2026, ChatGPT experienced a significant outage, with over 100 reports surfacing on Downdetector. The incident, which also impacted other major AI providers, saw OpenAI apply mitigations and monitor recovery. Users reported issues ranging from connectivity failures to missing chats and image generation errors, highlighting the fragility of centralized AI infrastructure.
Gemini Narrows Market Share Gap with ChatGPT
New data from Similarweb indicates that while ChatGPT remains the leader with approximately 5.9 billion web visits in September 2026, its market share has dipped to 56.4%. Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude are gaining ground, collectively accounting for 34.6% of traffic. This shift suggests a more competitive landscape where users are increasingly distributing their queries across multiple platforms.
API Pricing Updates and Cache Rate Changes
Tech Insider reported that as of October 2026, Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude have aligned on a $0.10 cache rate for API usage. However, a significant change is pending: the Argon rate is set to double on December 1. These pricing structures are critical for developers managing costs across different AI providers, especially as usage scales.
Local view
Spanish Media Focus on Privacy and Data Usage
Spanish-language outlets like El Tiempo are highlighting concerns over how ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Meta AI handle user conversations. Reports emphasize the importance of opting out of model training and advise users on what data should never be shared. This reflects a growing global awareness of data privacy in AI interactions.
Australian Market Trends
In Australia, Gemini has emerged as a strong contender with 9.1 million users, leveraging its free tier. Meanwhile, Microsoft Copilot’s pricing tiers (AU$16-$33/month) face stiff competition from the free offerings of Gemini and the new Meta AI Muse model. This dynamic is reshaping consumer adoption patterns in the region.
Context & numbers
Market Share and Traffic
- ChatGPT: Leads with ~5.9 billion web visits (56.4% share) in September 2026.
- Gemini & Claude: Combined, they hold 34.6% of the traffic, showing significant growth.
- Australia Users: Gemini leads with 9.1 million users in the Australian market.
Pricing Benchmarks
- Copilot Tiers: AU$16 to AU$33 per month in Australia.
- API Cache Rates: Unified $0.10 cache rate for Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude.
- Price Gap: Claude Opus 5.5, ChatGPT GPT-6, and Gemini 4 Argon show a 20x price gap depending on the plan and model selected.
On the radar
Upcoming Pricing Changes
Developers should note that the Argon API rate is scheduled to double on December 1, 2026. This change will impact cost calculations for applications relying heavily on this specific model tier.
New Agent Tools Launch
OpenAI’s Dots, Meta’s Muse, and Claude’s agent tools have launched within weeks of each other. Users are advised to compare OSWorld benchmarks and permissions carefully before granting these agents access to their systems.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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