OpenAI just dropped the first comprehensive look at how people actually use ChatGPT - and it's not what you'd expect. The company's groundbreaking study of 1.5 million conversations reveals that 73% of ChatGPT usage is now personal, not work-related, marking a massive shift from the productivity tool everyone thought it was to something more like a digital life coach.
OpenAI just pulled back the curtain on how the world actually uses ChatGPT, and the results flip conventional wisdom about AI adoption on its head. The company's first-of-its-kind study, released Tuesday through a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, analyzed 1.5 million conversations to reveal that ChatGPT has quietly evolved from a work productivity tool into something more personal - a digital companion helping with everyday life.
The numbers tell a striking story of transformation. Non-work related messages surged to 73% in June 2025 from just 53% a year earlier, according to the study authored by OpenAI's Economic Research team alongside Harvard economist David Deming. "We're still learning how people use AI in the wild, but this trend gives us a glimpse into where the value is and how it's shifting," OpenAI Chief Economist Aaron Chatterji wrote on LinkedIn.
What are people actually doing with ChatGPT? The study found that three-quarters of conversations fall into three core buckets: practical guidance, information seeking, and writing assistance. But here's where it gets interesting - "practical guidance" dominates, covering everything from tutoring requests to creative brainstorming and how-to advice. It's less "write my report" and more "help me figure this out."
The workplace usage patterns reveal an even more nuanced picture. While writing tasks account for 40% of work-related ChatGPT messages, about two-thirds of those aren't asking the AI to create content from scratch. Instead, people want help editing, critiquing, and translating existing text - treating ChatGPT more like a writing coach than a ghostwriter.
This usage breakdown challenges the prevailing narrative about AI replacing workers. The study's framework of "Asking, Doing, and Expressing" shows that about half of all messages fall into the "Asking" category - meaning people value ChatGPT most as an advisor rather than just for task completion. For work messages specifically, 56% were classified as "Doing," but researchers argue this suggests AI is augmenting human capabilities rather than replacing entire job functions.
"Writing is a task that is common to nearly all white-collar jobs, and good written communication skills are among the top 'soft' skills demanded by employers," the paper noted. The implication: ChatGPT isn't eliminating writing jobs but helping people become better writers, especially in knowledge-intensive roles where judgment and creativity matter most.