Increased Task-Oriented Use of ChatGPT
OpenAI has released new country-level data indicating a significant shift in how ChatGPT is utilized, with a growing emphasis on performing tasks rather than merely seeking answers. This data, published on August 6, 2026, through OpenAI Signals, aims to assist researchers and policymakers in understanding global adoption patterns of AI technologies.
Task Completion Dominates Professional Use
The Signals dataset reveals that in professional environments, users are more than twice as likely to employ ChatGPT for task completion or content creation—such as editing, coding, or conducting analyses—compared to its use outside of work. In contrast, outside of work, the predominant use remains exploratory, characterized as “asking” for information or clarification. This trend has become more pronounced following the introduction of ChatGPT Work.
Multimedia Use on the Rise
Since the launch of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in April 2026, multimedia generation, analysis, and retrieval have emerged as the fastest-growing use case, now accounting for 7.8% of global messages. Notably, in several Latin American countries, including Brazil and Colombia, over 10% of messages were classified as multimedia in the second quarter of 2026.
Geographical and Age Demographics of Adoption
The data also highlights a geographical expansion in ChatGPT adoption. Regions such as Latin America, Oceania, and Africa have shown faster increases in per-capita usage during Q2 2026, with Peru, Uruguay, and Costa Rica making the most significant gains in global rankings. Additionally, there has been a notable rise in usage among individuals aged 35 and older across nearly all countries, with France and Czechia reporting increases of over 10 percentage points in this demographic year-over-year.
Data Availability and Insights
The Signals release provides detailed country estimates for Q2 2026 and is designed to offer downloadable data and methodology for further analysis. The dataset reflects activity from individual accounts on ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, and Pro, which are generally managed by individuals rather than organizations.
Original source: OpenAI News