How Are People Using ChatGPT (2025 OpenAI Study): Key Insights

ChatGPT isn’t just another fad; it’s one of the fastest-adopted technologies.

In just a few years, it has shifted from novelty to an everyday tool, shaping how people study, work, and create.

This article breaks down key insights from OpenAI’s latest study on how people are using ChatGPT, showing where the tool adds real value, where it falls short, and why balance matters in using AI responsibly.

Key Takeaways (TL;DR):

• In September 2025, OpenAI published “the largest study to date” on how people are using ChatGPT. The study reviewed 1+ million conversations.
• The study was published as a National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper by OpenAI’s Economic Research Team and David Deming, a Harvard economist. 
• Writing, seeking information, and practical guidance are the top three use cases (conversation topics) for ChatGPT, making up the majority of interactions (78%).
• While ChatGPT can boost productivity and act as an on-demand tutor, it can also produce errors (AI hallucinations) and requires fact-checking.
• The best approach to AI usage is balance, using ChatGPT transparently, as a partner rather than as a replacer.

A Quick History of ChatGPT

But first, a quick history of ChatGPT. We’ll keep this short, but if you’d like to learn more about ChatGPT, check out our ChatGPT review.

ChatGPT was first released by OpenAI in late 2022, rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing consumer applications in history.

Within a matter of months, it became a widely used tool for help with coding, writing, studying, and other uses. 

Today, ChatGPT has 700 million weekly active users.

Since then, the tool has undergone several upgrades, and at the time of writing this article, OpenAI are currently on GPT-5 (after retiring GPT-4 earlier this year), a far more advanced version of the original product.

2025 OpenAI Study: Most Common Uses of ChatGPT

Now that’s covered, let’s take a look at some of the most common uses of ChatGPT. 

A September 2025 study (National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper), “How People Use ChatGPT,” published by OpenAI’s Economic Research team and Harvard economist David Deming, offers us data-driven insights into common uses in 2025, and helps shape our understanding of how people are interacting with generative AI.

The study looked in-depth at different patterns of usage, including:

• Asking (49%)
• Doing (40%)
• Expressing (11%)

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common uses or conversation topics of ChatGPT highlighted in the article:

Writing

According to the study, where over 1 million user messages were studied, writing is one of the top “Doing” activities in ChatGPT. 

This category covers everything from writing itself to editing content to summarizing documents.

Based on the findings of this study, around 40% of work-related messages involve ChatGPT writing, which highlights just how important it has become for professional and academic productivity. Further, this made writing the most common work use case for ChatGPT, according to the study.

“Writing is the most common use case at work, accounting for 40% of work-related messages on average in June 2025.” - How People Use ChatGPT (page 2)

Perhaps even more interestingly, approximately two-thirds of writing requests are modifications, rather than generating new content. This means that while writing may be the most common AI use case in a work environment, people are primarily using it for editorial support and critiques or even translations.

Seeking Information

Another of the most common use cases of ChatGPT is simply for asking questions and seeking information. 

This use case approaches ChatGPT very similarly to a search engine function:

• Researching information
• Looking for recipes
• Learning about current events

This highlights that ChatGPT is starting to get used more like an on-demand explainer or researcher, rather than just as a content generator, as it was in its early days.

The study also notes that “Asking” use cases now account for almost half the messages at 49%, showing people now see ChatGPT as an information source, not just a writing assistant.

Practical Guidance

Another common use of ChatGPT, according to OpenAI’s recent study, is practical guidance.

Practical guidance is the most common of the use cases, and highlights a shift toward action-oriented AI uses, such as:

• Tutoring
• How-to information and advice
• Teaching and learning

This indicates that queries are focused around concepts like “what should I do with this.”

Less Common Use Cases for ChatGPT

As well as highlighting the primary ChatGPT use cases, the study also provides insights on less frequent uses for ChatGPT.

Interestingly, use cases for computer-related tasks (like programming) and personal reflection were relatively low percentiles.

Computer programming queries only accounted for 4.2% of the messages, while personal reflection was even lower at 1.9%.

Where ChatGPT Falls Short

While ChatGPT is quickly becoming a go-to tool for writing, advice, and explanations, that doesn’t mean it comes without issues and flaws. 

The most common ones include:

• AI Hallucinations: AI hallucinations do occur (for incorrect facts and even made-up sources), where ChatGPT confidently provides information that looks real but is completely made up. Sometimes it can even be difficult to spot this as ChatGPT may produce it with a confident tone.
• Concerns Around Critical Thinking: While ChatGPT can be used to summarize and explain topics, if users rely too heavily on its guidance, they may skip deeper thinking and critical analysis.
• Skill Development Issues: For students in particular, using ChatGPT to generate essays or solve problems can seem like a quick solution, but it can undermine problem-solving, learning, and other important skills over the long term.

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT is no longer a novelty. The recent study from OpenAI shows that it’s quickly becoming a regular tool for millions of people to write, learn, and get advice.

But this can have both positive effects (productivity, efficiency), and negative ones (skill gaps, over-reliance).

The smartest approach is a balanced one. 

Treat ChatGPT as a support, rather than as a replacer. 

Before publishing or submitting any important work, it’s worth taking one extra step and running it through Originality.ai’s industry-leading AI detection software to maintain transparency and authenticity in the age of AI.

Further reading on the latest in AI:

• The Traffic Apocalypse: How AI is Reshaping the Content Economy
• OpenAI Partnerships List
• The New York Times Uses AI Tools: Key Insights
• The $440k AI Mistake in the Deloitte Report Scandal

FAQs About How People Are Using ChatGPT

What do most people use ChatGPT for?

Recent studies show the top uses are writing tasks (drafting, editing, rephrasing), seeking information, and practical guidance like planning or problem-solving.

Can ChatGPT help students learn?

Yes, when used for study support (such as with ChatGPT Study Mode), for generating quizzes, or explaining concepts. However, misuse, like essay generation, undermines learning and can have significant consequences in academia.

Can you rely on ChatGPT for research?

ChatGPT can provide summaries and overviews, but it sometimes invents or misrepresents sources. Always fact-check information and verify references. ChatGPT is best as a starting point for research, with a thorough review of the information and sources being an essential follow-up step.

What are the risks of using ChatGPT too much?

Over-reliance on AI can weaken critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills. AI should support work and learning, not replace them.