ChatGPT has become the fifth most visited website in the world, but unlike other top sites, not much is known about how exactly it’s used. YouTube is used to watch videos, Google is used for search, but ChatGPT is used by different people in very different ways. But a working paper titled “How People Use ChatGPT” from NBER attempts to shed some light into how ChatGPT is used.
A comprehensive analysis of ChatGPT usage patterns reveals fascinating insights into how users are using artificial intelligence in their daily workflows and personal tasks. Drawing from a large-scale study of approximately 1.1 million conversations sampled between May 15, 2024, and June 26, 2025, NBER researchers have mapped the landscape of AI interaction across multiple categories of human activity.
The data shows that practical guidance dominates ChatGPT usage, accounting for 28.3% of all conversations. This substantial portion reflects users turning to the AI for actionable advice across various domains, suggesting that ChatGPT has become a go-to resource for problem-solving and decision-making support. The prevalence of this category indicates that users value the AI’s ability to provide structured, helpful responses to complex real-world challenges.
Writing-related tasks represent the second-largest usage category at 28.1%, nearly matching practical guidance in popularity. This encompasses a broad spectrum of written communication needs, from drafting emails and reports to creative content generation. The significant share devoted to writing assistance demonstrates ChatGPT’s effectiveness as a collaborative writing tool, helping users overcome writer’s block, improve clarity, and enhance their communication skills.
Educational applications occupy a substantial portion of user interactions, with tutoring and teaching conversations comprising 10.2% of total usage. This finding highlights ChatGPT’s role as an accessible educational resource, providing personalized instruction and explanations across various subjects. The platform appears to have found significant traction as a supplementary learning tool, offering on-demand educational support that adapts to individual learning needs.
Information-seeking behavior accounts for 21.3% of conversations, split between specific information requests at 18.3% and general seeking information at 3.0%. This substantial portion underscores ChatGPT’s function as a research assistant and knowledge repository. Users frequently rely on the AI to quickly locate facts, explain concepts, and provide comprehensive overviews of topics ranging from technical subjects to general knowledge queries.
Creative applications show notable diversity within the platform’s usage patterns. Creative ideation represents 3.9% of conversations, while editing and critiquing provided text accounts for 10.6%. Translation services make up 4.5% of usage, and fiction writing comprises 1.4%. These categories collectively demonstrate ChatGPT’s versatility in supporting various forms of creative expression and content refinement.
Technical and analytical tasks maintain a meaningful presence in the usage landscape. Computer programming discussions account for 4.2% of conversations, while mathematical calculations represent 3.6%. Data analysis, though smaller at 0.4%, still reflects specialized use cases where users leverage ChatGPT’s analytical capabilities. Technical help more broadly encompasses 7.5% of usage, indicating the platform’s utility in troubleshooting and technical problem-solving.
Personal and interpersonal applications show interesting patterns in how users integrate AI into their social and emotional lives. Personal writing and communication represents 8.0% of usage, while relationships and personal reflection account for 1.9%. Self-expression comprises 4.3% of conversations, and general greetings and chitchat make up 2.0%. These categories suggest that many users view ChatGPT not merely as a tool but as a conversational partner for processing thoughts and emotions.
Lifestyle-related queries demonstrate the platform’s integration into everyday decision-making. Health, fitness, beauty, and self-care conversations account for 5.7% of usage, while how-to advice represents 8.5%. These categories reflect users’ tendency to consult ChatGPT for practical lifestyle guidance, from wellness tips to step-by-step instructions for various tasks.
Niche applications reveal the breadth of ChatGPT’s utility across specialized domains. Games and role-play activities comprise 0.4% of usage, while cooking and recipes account for 0.9%. Purchasable products discussions make up 2.1%, and multimedia analysis represents 0.6%. Image creation requests account for 4.2%, and other media generation comprises 1.1%. These smaller categories illustrate the platform’s flexibility in supporting diverse creative and practical applications.
The data reveals a small but notable portion of conversations classified as “Other/Unknown” at 4.1% and 4.6% across different categories, suggesting that ChatGPT usage continues to evolve in ways that challenge traditional categorization systems.
This comprehensive usage analysis demonstrates that ChatGPT has evolved into a multifaceted digital assistant that supports users across professional, educational, creative, and personal domains. The platform’s success appears to stem from its ability to adapt to diverse user needs while maintaining consistent quality across varied application areas. As AI technology continues to develop, these usage patterns provide valuable insights into how humans integrate artificial intelligence into their daily workflows and decision-making processes.