I don't understand? Yeah advertising can be manipulative but you surely arent saying Silicon Valley is forcing 800 million people actively to use ChatGPT? Even if thats the case, why are we seeing so many competitors that are also seeing massive numbers of active users?

I think its much more complex to model a world where all these active users are being manipulated etc. A much simpler explanation is that the author is pandering to a certain section of the public and basing the entire world's view through that lens.

This is why its important to always be skeptical when journalists start speaking for "everyone" even in the face of data showing they are wrong.