Khaberni - A wave of popular outrage against the chatbot "ChatGPT" began to gain momentum on the internet in early February 2026, not due to plans to halt the "GPT-40" model or service disruptions but as a political and ethical protest movement.
The campaign is named "QuitGPT," urging users to cancel their subscriptions to "ChatGPT," delete the app, and switch to alternate chatbots. This momentum raises fundamental questions about how artificial intelligence intersects with politics, corporate behavior, and consumer values, according to a report by "Tom’s Guide," a technology news site, reviewed by "Al Arabiya Business."
What is the "QuitGPT" campaign?
The "QuitGPT" campaign is a decentralized movement spread across platforms like Reddit and Instagram and dedicated websites, where users pledge to abandon their "ChatGPT Plus" subscription and other paid packages.
The campaign organizers and participants cite several major complaints:
- Political contributions from the leadership of "OpenAI": The campaign widely claims that the head of "OpenAI" has made a significant political donation to a pro-Trump political action committee, which critics argue conflicts with the activist values of many Silicon Valley users.
- Use of artificial intelligence in government law enforcement: Supporters of the "QuitGPT" campaign point to the use of tools powered by models like "ChatGPT" in hiring or screening processes by agencies like the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raising growing concerns about the use of AI in controversial real-world systems.
- Ethical concerns and corporate accountability: Beyond individual incidents, the movement reflects a broader concern about who controls the technology that users rely on daily, and what the values of these leaders suggest about these very tools.
Organizers claim that tens of thousands of people have so far registered to abandon their subscriptions, indicating that the protest has exceeded the confines of anonymous online debates to become an organized activity. The "QuitGPT" website asserts that 700,000 users have already committed to the boycott.
Support from Mark Ruffalo
Among the factors contributing to highlighting the "QuitGPT" campaign is the support of actor and activist Mark Ruffalo, who shared the campaign on social media and urged his followers to consider the ethical implications of continuing to use and pay for "ChatGPT."
In his posts, Ruffalo portrays the boycott as an ethical choice, suggesting exploring alternative AI services that better align with user values.
Ruffalo's posts on Instagram - which garnered millions of likes and widespread interaction - have enhanced awareness of the campaign and pushed "QuitGPT" into public discussion outside of tech forums and activist circles.
A Closer Look
Rarely does widespread online outrage reflect directly and clearly in real life. True, the "QuitGPT" campaign is causing quite a stir, but the buzz does not necessarily mean extensive spread.
"ChatGPT" still has a huge user base of its free service, and for millions of professionals, students, and ordinary users, it has become an integral part of their working and thinking process, and this kind of reliance doesn't disappear overnight.
Regardless of the political stance on this specific topic, it presents an opportunity to reassess value: Does "ChatGPT" still merit payment for its use? Are there better models available? Do alternatives offer stronger privacy or clearer controls?.
Organizers of the "QuitGPT" campaign do not simply say: "Delete ChatGPT and stop using it." They actively direct people toward competitors like Gemini and Cloud and open-source options. This indicates that the issue is not an anti-AI movement but concerns about choices within a rapidly expanding AI ecosystem.
In this sense, what the "QuitGPT" campaign represents may be more significant than the actual number of people who have canceled their subscriptions. It is part of a broader wave of public scrutiny of major tech companies, reminding users that they no longer see platforms as neutral tools, but as companies whose values are implicitly endorsed.
