OpenAI’s ChatGPT Leads the Pack as Developers Embrace AI Innovation, New Relic Report Finds
In a groundbreaking analysis of AI adoption trends, New Relic, a leader in Intelligent Observability, has unveiled its inaugural AI Unwrapped: 2025 AI Impact Report. The report provides an in-depth look at how developers are shaping the AI landscape, leveraging insights from aggregated and de-identified usage data across 85,000 active New Relic customers over the past year. Among the key findings: OpenAI’s ChatGPT dominates the AI ecosystem, accounting for over 86% of all large language model (LLM) tokens processed by New Relic customers. However, the data also highlights a growing appetite for experimentation with alternative models, signaling a dynamic and rapidly evolving AI environment.
ChatGPT: The Undisputed Leader in AI Development
The report underscores ChatGPT’s overwhelming popularity among developers, solidifying its position as the go-to model for AI applications. According to Nic Benders, New Relic’s Chief Technical Strategist, “AI is no longer confined to innovation labs or pilot programs—it’s becoming central to business operations. Our data shows that while ChatGPT remains the undisputed leader, developers are moving at the ‘speed of AI,’ adopting the latest advancements almost as soon as they’re released.”
This trend is evident in the rapid adoption of newer iterations of ChatGPT. For instance, ChatGPT-4o and ChatGPT-4o mini have emerged as dominant forces, with developers swiftly transitioning from older versions like ChatGPT-3.5 Turbo to the more advanced ChatGPT-4.1 mini since its release in April. This shift demonstrates that developers prioritize cutting-edge performance and features over cost savings, underscoring the competitive nature of the AI development space.
A Growing Trend Toward Model Diversification
Despite ChatGPT’s dominance, the report reveals a countervailing trend: increased diversification in AI model usage. Developers are experimenting with open-source alternatives, specialized domain-specific solutions, and task-specific models, albeit on a smaller scale. Meta’s Llama, for example, emerged as the second most widely used model in terms of LLM tokens processed by New Relic customers.
Notably, there was a staggering 92% increase in the number of unique models used across AI applications in the first quarter of 2025 alone. This surge in experimentation reflects a broader movement toward tailoring AI solutions to specific use cases, as organizations seek to optimize performance, reduce costs, and address niche requirements. While general-purpose models like ChatGPT remain foundational, this diversification signals a maturing AI ecosystem where flexibility and customization are increasingly valued.
The Rise of AI Monitoring Solutions
As AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, ensuring reliability, accuracy, compliance, and cost efficiency has become paramount. New Relic’s AI Monitoring solution has seen steady adoption, with a consistent 30% quarter-over-quarter growth in usage over the past year. This upward trajectory highlights the growing recognition among enterprises that robust monitoring tools are essential for managing AI deployments effectively.
“AI monitoring is no longer optional—it’s a necessity,” Benders noted. “Our customers understand that as AI becomes ingrained in their businesses, they need solutions that provide visibility into model performance, identify potential issues, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.” By offering an intuitive and scalable platform, New Relic is empowering organizations to maintain control over their AI initiatives, even as they scale and diversify.
Programming Languages: Python Reigns Supreme, Java Gains Ground
The report also sheds light on programming language preferences within the AI development community. Python continues to dominate, thanks to its extensive support, rich ecosystem of libraries, and widespread adoption. Customer usage of Python in AI applications grew by nearly 45% in the last quarter alone, reinforcing its status as the lingua franca of AI development.
Node.js followed closely behind Python in terms of both request volume and customer adoption. However, one of the most intriguing developments was the rapid rise of Java. With a 34% increase in usage since the previous quarter, Java is emerging as a key player in enterprise-grade AI applications. This growth suggests that larger organizations are leveraging Java’s stability and scalability to build production-ready AI systems, particularly for mission-critical tasks.
The Future of AI Development: Balancing Innovation and Practicality
The findings from New Relic’s AI Unwrapped: 2025 AI Impact Report paint a vivid picture of an AI ecosystem in flux. On one hand, OpenAI’s ChatGPT remains the cornerstone of AI development, driving innovation and delivering unparalleled capabilities. On the other hand, the rapid experimentation with alternative models reflects a growing emphasis on customization and specialization.
As AI continues to permeate every aspect of business, organizations must strike a delicate balance between embracing cutting-edge technologies and maintaining operational rigor. Tools like New Relic’s AI Monitoring solution are proving indispensable in this endeavor, enabling businesses to harness the full potential of AI while mitigating risks and ensuring accountability.
About New Relic
The New Relic Intelligent Observability Platform helps businesses eliminate interruptions in digital experiences. New Relic is the only AI-strengthened platform to unify and pair telemetry data to provide clarity over the entire digital estate. We move problem solving past proactive to predictive by processing the right data at the right time to maximize value and control costs. That’s why businesses around the world—including Adidas Runtastic, American Red Cross, Domino’s, GoTo Group, Ryanair, Topgolf, and William Hill—run on New Relic to drive innovation, improve reliability, and deliver exceptional customer experiences to fuel growth. Visit www.newrelic.com.
