OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says ChatGPT usage is splitting along generational lines, offering a clearer picture of how artificial intelligence is being absorbed into everyday life.
Different age groups, different roles for AI
According to Altman, older users often approach ChatGPT as a replacement for search engines, relying on it mainly to find information, answer questions, and simplify online lookup. Users in their 20s and 30s, however, are more likely to treat the chatbot as a life advisor, turning to it for guidance on work, personal organization, and day-to-day decisions.
Gen Z stands out even more. Altman said younger users increasingly treat ChatGPT like an operating system, not just a chatbot. That means deeper engagement with features such as complex prompting and memory, allowing AI to support more persistent and integrated workflows across daily life.
Gen Z adoption signals a deeper AI shift
The report notes that by 2025, more than one-third of U.S. users aged 18 to 24 were actively using ChatGPT, underlining the platform’s growing reach among younger demographics. Their behavior also appears meaningfully different: Gen Z users often consult ChatGPT before making major life decisions, suggesting that AI is moving beyond basic information retrieval into personal decision support.
The pattern resembles the early adoption cycle of smartphones, where younger users were often the first to integrate a new technology into the fabric of daily living. Altman’s comments suggest that ChatGPT is no longer serving a single universal purpose. Depending on the generation, it is increasingly being used as a search tool, an advisory assistant, or even a digital operating layer for everyday tasks.