As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more mainstream, people are increasingly turning to ChatGPT for personal needs rather than office tasks, a new study has found.
The report, released as a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and authored by OpenAI’s Economic Research team in partnership with Harvard economist David Deming, found that nearly 70 percent of ChatGPT interactions are unrelated to work. Only about 30 percent of usage is tied to office or professional tasks.
The study, which analysed 1.5 million conversations while preserving user privacy, is described as the largest of its kind to date. It offers a detailed snapshot of how consumer adoption of the tool has evolved since its public launch three years ago.
With ChatGPT now recording about 700 million weekly active users, the findings highlight its dual role as both a workplace productivity enhancer and a companion for everyday tasks.
According to the paper, ChatGPT is most frequently used in three broad ways: “Asking,” “Doing,” and “Expressing.” Nearly half of all conversations (49 percent) fall into the “Asking” category, in which people seek advice, information, or guidance.
About 40 percent of interactions are “Doing,” referring to task-oriented activities such as drafting, planning, or programming,roughly one-third of which are work-related. The remaining 11 percent are categorised as “Expressing,” a use case that involves personal reflection, exploration, or play.
The report also highlights how adoption patterns have shifted over time. Early gender gaps in usage have narrowed considerably. In January 2024, only 37 percent of identifiable users had feminine names, but by July 2025, that share had risen to 52 percent, mirroring the general adult population. Adoption has also increased in low- and middle-income countries, where growth rates are more than four times higher than in wealthier nations.
“Usage gaps are closing as we increasingly democratise AI,” the authors noted, adding that the findings underscore ChatGPT’s role as a global, broadly accessible tool.
The study further shows that three-quarters of consumer interactions focus on everyday needs such as writing, seeking information, and practical guidance. Writing remains the most common professional task, while coding and self-expression account for smaller shares of activity.
Crucially, the researchers argue that ChatGPT is generating value in ways that traditional economic measures, such as GDP, often overlook.
“ChatGPT’s economic impact extends to both work and personal life. Approximately 30 percent of consumer usage is work-related and approximately 70 percent is non-work, with both categories continuing to grow over time, underscoring ChatGPT’s dual role as both a productivity tool and a driver of value for consumers in daily life. In some cases, it’s generating value that traditional measures like GDP fail to capture,” the report stated.
The study added that the widening adoption of AI highlighted the view that access to the technology should be considered a basic right, one that enables people to unlock their potential and shape their own future.
