Study of 1.5 Million Chats Shows How People Use ChatGPT

A new working paper by OpenAI, in collaboration with Harvard economist David Deming, has revealed how people around the world are using ChatGPT.

The study looked at 1.5 million conversations between May 2024 and July 2025 and found that ChatGPT has grown far beyond its early users, now becoming part of daily life for people everywhere.

Gender Gap Nearly Gone

When ChatGPT first launched, most users were men—around 80%. But things have changed. By mid-2025, female users made up 52% of the total, showing that the gender gap has almost disappeared.

• Women often use ChatGPT for writing help and practical guidance.

• Men still lean more toward technical support and research.

This shift means a wider, more balanced audience is now using ChatGPT.

Growth in Lower-Income Countries

The report also showed strong growth in lower-income countries. While high-income countries still use ChatGPT more overall, adoption in less wealthy nations is rising four times faster. This shows that AI tools are becoming more accessible across the world, not just in richer regions.

Personal Use Now Bigger Than Work Use

In the beginning, ChatGPT was often seen as a work tool for coding, research, or office tasks. But now, most people are using it for personal reasons. By June 2025, 73% of conversations were non-work related.

The study grouped ChatGPT use into three main areas:

• Asking (49%) – People asking for information, how-to tips, or school help.

• Doing (40%) – Drafting emails, planning events, editing text, or writing tasks.

• Expressing (11%) – Creative writing, self-reflection, or personal communication.

ChatGPT as a Daily Helper

Overall, the study shows that ChatGPT has moved from being a novelty or office tool to becoming an everyday helper. People now rely on it for writing, advice, planning, and learning.

For OpenAI, this means the focus may shift more toward improving features that make daily life easier for people everywhere. While challenges like AI errors still exist, it’s clear that ChatGPT is becoming a regular part of life across different countries and communities.

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