A new study by OpenAI and NBER shows that only 30% of consumers use ChatGPT for work, while 70% use it for personal purposes. The report highlights evolving usage trends, gender balance, and global adoption rates.

Only 30 percent of consumers use ChatGPT for work-related purposes, according to a new study conducted by OpenAI in collaboration with the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

The findings, published in September and co-authored with David Deming, a Harvard economist, indicate that the majority, 70 per cent of user,s leverage the AI tool for personal use.

The study described ChatGPT as serving a dual role:

• A productivity tool for work-related tasks.

• A value driver for consumers in daily life.

Researchers analyzed 1.5 million consumer queries to track how usage patterns have evolved since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022.

The study emphasized that automated tools were used to categorize patterns, ensuring privacy was not compromised during the process.

One of the report’s most striking findings was the dramatic shift in the gender distribution of ChatGPT users.

• In January 2024, only 37% of users had names classified as typically feminine.

• By July 2025, that number had risen to 52%, indicating that women now comprise more than half of ChatGPT’s user base.

This shift suggests a significant narrowing of the gender gap in AI adoption.

The study also found that the adoption of AI tools in the lowest-income countries is expanding at a significantly faster rate compared to wealthy nations.

• Growth rates in low-income countries: 4x higher than in high-income countries.

• This indicates a rapid democratization of AI access and adoption worldwide.

How People Use ChatGPT

The report outlined the main categories of ChatGPT use cases:

• 49% use it as an advisor (e.g., decision-making, guidance, recommendations).

• 40% use it for writing, programming, and planning.

• 11% use it for personal reflection, exploration, and play.

The study also coincides with a milestone in OpenAI’s expansion.

• In August 2025, OpenAI recorded 700 million weekly active users.

• During the same period, the company launched GPT-5, which it described as its most advanced and powerful model to date.