A new study by OpenAI researchers and Harvard economist David Deming has examined how consumers are using ChatGPT, based on 1.5 million anonymized conversations.

The research, released as a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that non-work-related messages on ChatGPT rose to 73% in June 2025, up from 53% a year earlier.

Most ChatGPT usage fell into the categories of practical guidance, seeking information, and writing, with practical guidance being the most common.

For work-related use, 40% of messages involved writing, often focused on editing or translating existing text.

The study noted that, as of July, about 10% of the world’s adult population had used ChatGPT, with a more even gender and geographic distribution over time.

Growth was especially strong in low- and middle-income countries, where adoption rates in May 2025 were 4x higher than in high-income countries.

The study has not yet been peer-reviewed.

🔗 Source: CNBC

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