DeepSeek usage jumps 347% among technical pros, while executives gravitate toward other tools
[San Francisco, Dec. 3] — A new Bospar study reveals that while ChatGPT dominates overall business AI usage at 51.7%, the AI platform landscape is fracturing into specialist tools. DeepSeek has surged 347% among technical professionals, showing that one-size-fits-all AI is already over.
The data demonstrates clear platform specialization: technical professionals gravitate toward DeepSeek (28.7% usage) and Claude (19.2%), while C-level executives prefer Microsoft Copilot (45.7%) for enterprise integration, and Gen Z leads ChatGPT adoption at 67.2%.
The platform fragmentation extends beyond the big names. Grok captures 12.3% of conversational research, You.com handles 9.9% of search integration needs and Poe serves 6.4% of users seeking multi-model access. Perplexity dominates academic research, Claude handles analytical depth and Meta AI attracts 27.1% for social integration. Each serves different professional audiences.
“The platform wars aren’t about one winner anymore,” said Curtis Sparrer, principal of Bospar and pioneer in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). “CTOs are asking DeepSeek for technical recommendations, CEOs are using Copilot for strategic research and marketing teams rely on ChatGPT for competitive analysis.
“But here’s what companies miss: all these platforms cite the same authoritative sources. When DeepSeek recommends a cybersecurity vendor to a CTO, it is citing companies that published research in technical journals, got featured in IEEE publications or earned coverage in trade media. Strategic PR programs create the credibility foundation that works across every platform.”
The specialist surge reflects sophisticated user behavior: 68.4% of professionals switch platforms based on query type, while 47.7% use multiple platforms for verification. Technical queries drive users toward DeepSeek and Claude, while business research favors ChatGPT and Gemini.
As AI platforms fragment into specialist tools, companies need comprehensive GEO strategies that ensure visibility across multiple AI platforms, not just traditional search engines.
In September, Bospar announced the launch of Audit*E. This groundbreaking tool helps companies analyze their competitive positioning across AI platforms. The solution addresses a critical challenge facing businesses today: AI-powered search engines increasingly influence how potential customers, investors and partners research companies.
About This Research
A national online survey of 1,000 U.S. office workers was conducted by Propeller Insights from June 30 to August 7, 2025. Respondents opted into an online database; from there, they were targeted based on demographics. To further confirm qualifications, respondents were asked to verify their information in the survey itself, self-identifying qualifications, with the maximum margin of sampling error was +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
