OpenAI has published its first large-scale study of ChatGPT usage, offering unprecedented insight into how people integrate the AI tool into their everyday routines. Conducted in collaboration with Harvard economist David Deming, the research analyzed 1.5 million anonymized conversations from consumer users between May 2024 and mid-2025. The results show that ChatGPT is being used far more for personal and non-work purposes than for professional tasks, marking a significant shift in how generative AI is shaping daily life.
The study finds that about 70% of conversations are non-work related, with users frequently seeking advice, planning help, and creative support. Nearly 80% of all conversations fall into three broad categories: Practical Guidance, Seeking Information, and Writing. Even when used at work, writing dominates as the primary task, from drafting emails to creating documents, while coding and creative self-expression appear less common.
Researchers identified three distinct modes of interaction: asking questions for information or advice (49%), doing tasks such as drafting or planning (40%), and expressing creatively or reflectively (11%). This breakdown indicates that most people use ChatGPT as a thinking partner rather than fully outsourcing their work. As OpenAI notes, this decision-support role may prove one of the tool’s most valuable contributions.
The demographics of adoption are also shifting. In early 2024, only 37% of users had typically feminine first names, but by mid-2025 the share had grown to 52%, showing a rapid narrowing of the gender gap. Adoption is also accelerating in low- and middle-income countries, where growth has outpaced that of high-income nations by a factor of four, suggesting a growing democratization of access.
While workplace use remains concentrated among highly educated professionals, the broader trend points to generative AI’s integration into everyday problem-solving. From recipe suggestions to job application support, ChatGPT is no longer confined to the office. Instead, it is becoming a versatile tool for decision-making, creativity, and practical guidance, shaping how people across the globe approach both personal and professional challenges.
Key Takeaways
70% of conversations are non-work related, highlighting ChatGPT’s role in everyday life. Three main categories—Practical Guidance, Seeking Information, and Writing—cover 80% of all usage. Users interact in three modes: Asking (49%), Doing (40%), Expressing (11%). Gender gap closed: users with feminine names rose from 37% in early 2024 to 52% by mid-2025. Adoption in low- and middle-income countries is growing 4× faster than in high-income nations. Work usage remains concentrated among educated professionals, with writing tasks dominating. Decision-support is a key emerging value, helping users think through options and make choices.
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