When OpenAI introduced ChatGPT in November 2022, the company described it as a potential game-changer for office work. Built on advanced artificial intelligence, the chatbot was designed to respond to emails, draft business memos, and serve as a digital assistant in professional environments. Many believed its biggest impact would be seen in workplaces where it could automate repetitive communication tasks and improve productivity.
But now, for the first time, OpenAI has released a detailed report that examines how people around the world actually use ChatGPT—and the results are surprising. Instead of primarily serving as an office tool, ChatGPT has become deeply integrated into people’s personal lives.
The Shift in Usage Patterns
According to OpenAI’s report, in mid-2024 nearly half of all conversations on ChatGPT—around 50 percent—were job-related. These included writing professional emails, preparing documents, drafting résumés, or helping with workplace research.
However, by mid-2025, that figure had dropped dramatically to just 27 percent. This does not mean that people are using ChatGPT less. On the contrary, its global usage has skyrocketed. Every week, more than 700 million people now use the chatbot, sending over 2.5 billion messages daily. Put differently, that’s 29 messages every single second.
This shift shows that ChatGPT has moved from being mostly a “work assistant” to becoming a “life assistant.”
The Three Main Categories of Use
OpenAI, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Economic Research, Duke University, and Harvard University, analyzed billions of interactions and identified three dominant categories where ChatGPT is most frequently used:
- Practical Guidance
- Information Seeking
- Writing Assistance
1. Practical Guidance – The Most Common Use
The largest share of ChatGPT’s global usage—almost 80 percent—falls into practical guidance. This includes questions like “How do I cook a certain recipe?”, “What is the best way to prepare for an exam?”, or “How should I organize my travel plans?”. Users also ask the chatbot for creative ideas, step-by-step instructions, or explanations of difficult concepts.
In short, people are using ChatGPT as a personal coach, tutor, and problem solver. Instead of turning to family members, teachers, or even traditional books, many now rely on AI for immediate, clear, and tailored answers.
2. Information Seeking – A Search Alternative
The second major category is information seeking. Here, ChatGPT is acting as a substitute for traditional search engines. Instead of typing a query into Google and sifting through multiple websites, people prefer asking ChatGPT for a direct, conversational answer.
This trend highlights a broader transformation in how the internet is used. People no longer want just links; they want context, explanations, and simplified summaries that save time.
3. Writing Assistance – The Backbone of Productivity
The third core category is writing. Users frequently ask ChatGPT to draft emails, edit documents, translate text, or create content such as reports, essays, or social media posts. Even in professional environments, writing remains the most common task.
According to OpenAI’s report, in June 2025 around 40 percent of work-related queries on ChatGPT were focused on writing. By comparison, only 4.2 percent of all global messages were related to computer programming—a surprisingly small figure given ChatGPT’s reputation as a coding assistant.
Limited Use for Emotional or Social Support
One of the most notable findings is that, despite media speculation, ChatGPT is rarely used for emotional companionship or virtual relationships. OpenAI’s data shows that only a small percentage of conversations involve discussions about social, emotional, or deeply personal issues.
This suggests that while people rely on AI for practical and intellectual support, they still turn to human relationships for emotional needs.
Global Impact and Reach
The report concludes that ChatGPT has had a wide-reaching impact at a global scale. It is not just limited to advanced economies or corporate offices. Instead, it is spreading rapidly in low-income and middle-income countries, where access to traditional educational and professional resources may be limited.
Interestingly, the report also highlights gender differences: women use ChatGPT slightly more than men, accounting for 52 percent of users worldwide.
Age also plays a significant role. Nearly 46 percent of ChatGPT’s user base is between the ages of 18 and 25. This younger demographic tends to use the chatbot for hobbies, studies, or lifestyle-related queries, such as learning new skills, exploring entertainment, or seeking personal advice.
Another important trend is that most people access ChatGPT via smartphones, rather than desktop computers. This mobile-first usage reflects the convenience of having an AI assistant available on the go, ready to provide answers or assistance in daily life.
A Broader Perspective
The data from this study suggests that ChatGPT is not simply a workplace productivity tool but rather a multi-purpose life assistant. For some, it is a teacher. For others, it is a creative partner, a translator, or a research helper. The sheer scale of its adoption—hundreds of millions of users worldwide—demonstrates how artificial intelligence is shaping everyday behavior.
By simplifying access to knowledge, streamlining tasks, and offering guidance on almost any topic, ChatGPT has become more than a technological product. It has become a part of daily human routines across cultures and regions.
Conclusion
When ChatGPT was first introduced, OpenAI envisioned it primarily as an office companion to improve efficiency. But reality has turned out differently. Today, the majority of users rely on it for personal growth, problem-solving, and everyday learning rather than strictly professional purposes.
The findings underscore a profound truth: artificial intelligence, once expected to transform only the workplace, is now transforming human life as a whole. ChatGPT is not just helping us write emails—it is reshaping the way people learn, search for information, and manage their daily activities.
