Seven things we learned from OpenAI’s first study on ChatGPT usage

In a significant development for the AI landscape, OpenAI's Economic Research Team has released a pioneering study that sheds light on how individuals are utilizing ChatGPT. This research, conducted in collaboration with Harvard economist David Denning, is the first to leverage OpenAI's internal user data, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the real-world usage of this leading large language model. For those of us closely following the AI sector, the question of how large language models are applied has often loomed large. While previous studies relied on self-reported surveys, this new working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research marks a significant departure, providing direct insights into user engagement over time and across various tasks. After analyzing the comprehensive 65-page document, several key findings emerged that highlight the remarkable popularity of ChatGPT. Notably, the paper reveals that ChatGPT surpassed 100 million users in early 2024, surged past 400 million users shortly thereafter, and currently boasts over 700 million users worldwide. This staggering figure represents nearly 10% of the global adult population. OpenAI has acknowledged that their user counts may contain some inaccuracies due to the potential double-counting of users logged in on multiple devices and those with several accounts registered under different email addresses. Additionally, other analyses indicate that a relatively small proportion of these users are currently paying for ChatGPT's services. Nonetheless, the overall trend indicates a significant and ongoing interest in exploring OpenAI's offerings, which seems to be on a steep upward trajectory. This study not only confirms the popularity of ChatGPT but also provides valuable insights into the growing adoption of AI technologies in everyday life. As the landscape continues to evolve, understanding how users engage with these models will be crucial for shaping future developments in the field.