OpenAI Publishes Largest-Ever Study on Consumer ChatGPT Usage and Value
Executive Summary
OpenAI, in partnership with a Harvard economist, has released a National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper analyzing 1.5 million conversations, marking the largest study of consumer ChatGPT usage to date. The research shows that adoption is broadening across demographics, with narrowing gender gaps and rapid growth in lower-income countries. The findings indicate that most people use the tool for practical, everyday tasks, creating economic value in both personal (~70% of use) and professional (~30% of use) contexts.
Key Takeaways
* Massive Scale: The study is the most comprehensive analysis of consumer AI use yet, drawing from a privacy-preserving analysis of 1.5 million conversations.
* Democratizing Access: Early demographic gaps are closing. The share of users with typically feminine names grew from 37% to 52%, and adoption growth in the lowest-income countries is over 4x that of the highest.
* Dominant Use Cases: Three-quarters of conversations are for practical purposes like seeking information, getting guidance, and writing. Writing is the most common work-related task.
* Usage Patterns: Conversations are categorized into three types: "Asking" for advice (49%), "Doing" practical tasks (40%), and "Expressing" for personal exploration (11%).
* Dual Economic Value: The tool serves as both a productivity driver and a personal utility, with approximately 30% of consumer usage being work-related and 70% non-work related.
Strategic Importance
This study provides OpenAI with quantitative evidence to support its narrative that widely accessible AI creates tangible economic and personal value, reinforcing its mission to democratize the technology as a fundamental utility.