How people are using ChatGPT

A new NBER study, the largest to date on ChatGPT consumer usage, reveals significant broadening of adoption, with demographic gaps shrinking and rapid growth in emerging markets. The research indicates that while 75% of usage is for everyday tasks, ChatGPT is creating substantial economic value through both professional (30%) and personal (70%) applications, acting as a productivity tool and decision support system. This widespread and deepening integration underscores the technology's growing role as a foundational utility driving efficiency and value across diverse user segments globally, with implications for market penetration and broader economic impact.

Analysis

A new NBER working paper, representing the most comprehensive study of consumer AI usage to date, provides strong evidence of ChatGPT's transition from a niche technology to a mass-market utility with significant economic implications. The data reveals a notable democratization of access, with the user base broadening to resemble the general adult population; the gender gap has closed, with the share of users with typically feminine names rising from 37% to 52% by mid-2025. Furthermore, adoption growth in the lowest-income countries is over four times that of the highest-income nations, indicating a rapid global expansion beyond developed markets. Usage patterns are predominantly practical, with 75% of conversations focused on information-seeking, practical guidance, and writing. The largest and growing category, 'Asking' (49% of messages), positions the tool as a decision-support system, not just a task completer. Critically, the study quantifies a dual economic impact, with 30% of consumer usage being work-related—a strong indicator of its role as a professional productivity tool—while both work and personal use cases are growing. This deepening engagement, where user cohorts increase activity over time, suggests strong product-market fit and a value proposition that may not be fully captured by traditional economic measures like GDP.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Given the rapid, broadening adoption into a mass-market utility, investors should prioritize companies enabling or integrating AI on a large scale, as the technology moves beyond niche applications.
• The report's emphasis on value creation beyond traditional GDP, such as decision support, suggests that evaluating AI investments requires looking at non-financial KPIs like user engagement, retention, and deepening usage patterns as key indicators of long-term potential.
• The accelerated growth in low and middle-income countries, at over four times the rate of high-income nations, signals a significant long-term opportunity; portfolios should consider exposure to firms with effective global expansion and localization strategies for AI services.
• The finding that 30% of consumer-plan usage is work-related strongly validates the enterprise productivity thesis; this consumer behavior can be viewed as a leading indicator for the size and demand within the B2B AI software and services market.