Introduction to ChatGPT Usage
New research from OpenAI and Harvard has shed light on how people are using ChatGPT, a popular conversational AI tool. The study analyzed a massive 1.1 million conversations from May 2024 to June 2025, providing valuable insights into the platform’s usage patterns.
What People Use ChatGPT For
The research reveals that the three dominant topics on ChatGPT are Practical Guidance, Seeking Information, and Writing. These topics account for approximately 77% of the platform’s usage. Practical Guidance remains steady at around 29%, while Writing has declined from 36% to 24% over the past year. Seeking Information, on the other hand, has seen significant growth, increasing from 14% to 24%. This surge in Seeking Information suggests that ChatGPT is becoming a close substitute for traditional web searches.
Asking vs. Doing
The study categorizes user intent into three categories: Asking, Doing, and Expressing. About 49% of messages fall under the Asking category, 40% are Doing, and 11% are Expressing. Interestingly, Asking messages are consistently rated as having higher quality than the other categories, based on automated classifier and user feedback.
Work vs. Personal Use
The research also explores the divide between work and personal use on ChatGPT. Non-work usage has risen significantly, from 53% in June 2024 to 73% in June 2025. At work, Writing is the top use case, accounting for about 40% of work-related messages. Education is another major use, with 10% of all messages involving tutoring or teaching.
Coding and Companionship
While ChatGPT is often associated with coding and technical topics, the research shows that only 4.2% of messages are about computer programming. Additionally, a mere 1.9% of messages concern relationships or personal reflection. This suggests that users are leveraging ChatGPT for a wide range of topics beyond just coding and technical discussions.
Who’s Using It
The study documents rapid global adoption of ChatGPT, with early gender gaps narrowing over time. The share of users with typically feminine names has increased from 37% in January 2024 to 52% in July 2025. Furthermore, growth in the lowest-income countries has outpaced that of the highest-income countries, indicating a democratization of access to this technology.
Why This Matters
The shift towards information-seeking on ChatGPT has significant implications for how we consume and interact with online content. As a quarter of conversations on the platform are now focused on seeking information, it’s likely that some queries that would have gone to traditional search engines may instead be directed towards conversational tools like ChatGPT. This underscores the importance of creating content that answers questions and provides expertise that chatbots cannot replicate.
Looking Ahead
As ChatGPT continues to grow in popularity, it’s essential to track how audiences use AI tools and adjust content strategies accordingly. With 70% of ChatGPT use being personal, not professional, it’s clear that consumer habits are changing broadly. By understanding these shifts and adapting to them, we can better meet the evolving needs of our audiences and stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly changing landscape of online interaction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the research on ChatGPT usage provides valuable insights into the platform’s growth, user behavior, and implications for online content. As ChatGPT becomes an increasingly major destination for finding information online, it’s crucial to recognize the shift towards information-seeking and adapt our content strategies to meet the changing needs of our audiences. By doing so, we can harness the potential of conversational AI and stay relevant in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.