How Free Chicken Beat ChatGPT and Sora in the App Store

While the tech world buzzes about the potential of an AI bubble, a quick glance at Apple's App Store charts reveals a surprising leader. It's not a groundbreaking AI model, but a fast-food chain. For a moment, the top spot belonged not to OpenAI's ChatGPT or its new video generator Sora, but to Dave's Hot Chicken.

This might lead you to believe we love fried chicken more than artificial intelligence, but the reality is more nuanced. The story behind this chart-topping performance is a classic lesson in marketing and the mechanics of app store rankings.

The Power of a Free Sandwich

The reason Dave's Hot Chicken soared to the number one spot is remarkably simple: a promotion. The fast-food chain, which boasts Drake as an early investor, offered a free sandwich to any customer who downloaded and used its app to place an order. This brilliant marketing move triggered a massive wave of downloads and generated significant media attention, propelling the app to the top of the charts.

How App Store Rankings Really Work

This incident is not just about chicken; it's a valuable insight into how Apple's App Store rankings function. It's a common misconception that the charts reflect sheer, long-term popularity. Instead, they heavily favor the velocity of recent downloads. Apple's specific algorithm isn't public, but app developers have long understood that a sudden surge in downloads can launch an app to the top.

An app that gets a flurry of downloads from a promotion or sudden buzz will climb the ranks quickly. However, this doesn't guarantee it will stay there. True popularity is demonstrated by apps like ChatGPT, which maintain a high ranking over an extended period. This indicates a consistent stream of new downloads combined with high overall user engagement.

What This Means for AI Apps like Sora

The lesson from Dave's Hot Chicken applies directly to hyped-up tech releases. When OpenAI's Sora video app recently hit the top of the charts, it generated considerable excitement. While this indicates strong initial interest, it's important to be cautious.

The high ranking could mean that many people are hearing the buzz and downloading the app to check it out, especially since access is still limited. The real test of Sora's success will be whether it can maintain that momentum and user engagement over time. For now, its position, much like that of a chicken sandwich app, tells us more about a moment of high interest than about lasting dominance.