ChatGPT Usage Mapped: Writing, Searching, or Brainstorming?

In just three years, ChatGPT has grown into a global phenomenon. But what are people actually using it for?

Since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the AI tool has been growing at a rapid pace. In June, it reached the milestone of 700 million weekly active users. The American National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) published a report on the use of ChatGPT. It shows that ChatGPT is increasingly positioning itself as a digital assistant, and that non-work-related applications are taking the lead. The paper is based on 1.1 million unique conversations from May 15, 2024 to June 26, 2025.

Private Use Grows, Work Use Declines

The report shows that in June 2024, about 47 percent of all messages were work-related. A year later, this has dropped to just 27 percent. During this period, private use grew from 53 percent to 73 percent of all messages. The researchers emphasize that this increase is not due to new recreational users, but mainly due to the behavioral change of existing users.

The most popular topics are:

• Practical advice (such as on health, learning, or creativity)
• Looking up information (like a search engine)
• Writing (such as help with emails, translations, or summaries)

Together, these three categories account for almost 80 percent of all ChatGPT conversations.

Despite the reputation of AI tools as coding assistants, it turns out that barely 4.2 percent of ChatGPT messages are related to programming. Writing, however, is particularly popular, especially in a work context. In June 2025, 40 percent of all work-related messages were about writing tasks. This was more about rewriting or editing existing texts, and less about completely new work.

Who Uses ChatGPT?

The user group has changed significantly over the past few years. Initially, men were the largest user group (80%), but the female share is now also increasing. It also appears that almost half of all messages come from users under 26 years old. Additionally, there is strong growth in low-wage countries compared to richer countries. This means that the AI model is also being used and embraced outside the West.

The researchers divide the type of use into three main categories of all messages based on the output users expect:

• ‘Asking’: asking questions or searching for information (49%)

• ‘Doing’: giving assignments, such as writing or creating something (40%)

• ‘Expressing’: giving opinions (11%)

In the work context, the emphasis is on ‘Doing’ (56%), primarily on writing. ‘Asking’ and ‘Expressing’ account for 35 percent and nine percent respectively in the work context. In private context, ‘Asking’ is the most popular, showing that people use ChatGPT mostly for information, advice, and help with decisions.

Conclusion

The study shows that ChatGPT is mainly used for personal support and practical guidance, rather than for traditional work productivity. Where search engines mainly showed factual information, ChatGPT excels in delivering personal answers and texts with context.

Especially for knowledge workers (such as management, science, and education), the chatbot plays a valuable role as a digital assistant. It’s not that AI completely replaces work there, but it supports certain thought processes and decisions that can add value.