OpenAI’s Latest Data Reveals People Use ChatGPT Like a Digital Confidant, Not Just a Tool

OpenAI just dropped a massive new dataset called Signals that pulls insights from millions of ChatGPT conversations spanning July 2024 through the end of 2025. And the results are… surprisingly human. While you might expect most interactions to revolve around work tasks or quick Q&As, the data tells a different story: people are using ChatGPT as a space to express themselves, not just to get things done.

The company analyzed these interactions and sorted them into three broad categories: Asking (seeking information or clarification), Doing (getting ChatGPT to produce something tangible), and Expressing (sharing thoughts, feelings, or opinions without expecting a concrete output). That last category is the real headline here. It’s not just occasional venting—it’s a consistent, meaningful slice of overall usage. People are turning to ChatGPT as a kind of digital confidant, a place to think out loud, process emotions, or just be heard.

And this expressive use isn’t some niche behavior. The data shows it’s woven into the fabric of how people engage with the chatbot. It’s not just about productivity hacks or brainstorming sessions—it’s about connection, even if that connection is with an AI.

The analysis also breaks down usage by consumer plan type. Free-tier users and paid subscribers interact with ChatGPT differently when it comes to work-related tasks, though OpenAI notes this doesn’t include enterprise customers, where workplace adoption is likely even higher.

Age plays a role too. Younger users—specifically those between 18 and 34—are driving much of this personal, expressive engagement. They’re more inclined to treat ChatGPT like a conversational partner rather than just another productivity tool. It’s a generational shift in how AI is perceived and used.

On a global scale, OpenAI ranked countries by ChatGPT messages sent per capita, focusing on nations with populations over 5 million. The U.S. gets its own deep dive, with state-by-state breakdowns. Notably, OpenAI doesn’t operate in several countries, including China, Russia, and North Korea, so those markets are absent from the data. The company also tracks usage trends by first names, categorized as typically masculine or feminine, though it emphasizes it doesn’t collect gender data directly.

Looking ahead, the current dataset runs through the end of 2025, but OpenAI plans to keep updating the Signals page with fresh metrics and new breakdowns. Future updates will reveal whether expressive use continues to rise or if entirely new categories of interaction emerge as people find even more personal, creative ways to engage with AI.

For now, the message is clear: you’re not alone in treating ChatGPT like more than just a work chatbot. Millions of others are doing the same—turning to it for reflection, companionship, and a space to be themselves.

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