The OpenAI CEO said there are clear generational differences in how people use ChatGPT — and Gen Z use it more trustingly
For Gen Z, ChatGPT isn’t just a Google search, homework assistant or trivia buddy — it’s becoming something far more personal. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says many young users now treat the chatbot as a trusted life advisor, deeply embedding it into their daily routines and even their decision-making processes.
“They don’t really make life decisions without asking ChatGPT what they should do,” Altman said during a recent conversation at Sequoia Capital’s AI Ascent event. “It has the full context on every person in their life and what they’ve talked about.” According to Altman, this isn’t a matter of casual queries — many young users have built elaborate systems around the chatbot, involving stored prompts, file integrations, and consistent, evolving interactions.
“They really do use it like an operating system,” he added. “They have complex ways to set it up to connect it to a bunch of files, and they have fairly complex prompts memorized in their head or in something where they paste in and out.” While Altman called this description a “gross oversimplification,” he emphasized that generational differences in usage are clear. “Older people use ChatGPT as a Google replacement. Maybe people in their 20s and 30s use it like a life advisor. And then, like, people in college use it as an operating system.”
The numbers support his observation. In a February report, OpenAI revealed that U.S. college students are not only the most frequent users of ChatGPT, but also the most sophisticated in how they incorporate it into academic and personal life.
A separate Pew Research survey from January 2024 found that 26% of American teens aged 13–17 had used ChatGPT for schoolwork — up sharply from just 13% the previous year.
This rapid adoption has raised flags among educators and lawmakers. A bill proposed in California last year would require AI companies to make clear to minors that they’re not interacting with a human. Meanwhile, an April 2024 report by Common Sense Media and Stanford University researchers argued that AI companion services are inappropriate for children altogether, due to emotional and privacy concerns.
Still, for many in Gen Z, the integration of AI into daily life feels natural. On a recent Lex Fridman podcast, Altman noted, “We’re very early in our explorations here, but I think what people want… is a model that gets to know me and gets more useful to me over time.” As AI tools like ChatGPT grow more personalized and capable, the line between digital assistant and confidant continues to blur. For this generation, the chatbot isn’t just a tool — it’s part of growing up.
