As artificial intelligence continues its rapid evolution, the way people interact with tools like ChatGPT is changing just as quickly—and not everyone is using them the same way. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the generational divide in AI adoption is striking, with younger users leading the charge in innovative, complex ways.
Speaking at Sequoia Capital’s AI Ascent event in May 2025, Altman offered a candid assessment of how different age groups approach ChatGPT. “Gross oversimplification, but like older people use ChatGPT as a Google replacement. Maybe people in their 20s and 30s use it as like a life advisor, and then, like people in college use it as an operating system,” Altman explained, according to Fortune. This isn’t just idle speculation—OpenAI’s own 2025 report found that more than one-third of 18-to-24 year olds in the U.S. are regular ChatGPT users.
For college-aged Americans, ChatGPT isn’t simply a search engine or a digital assistant—it’s the backbone of their daily workflow. Altman described how these younger users “have complex ways to set it up and connect it to files and have fairly complex prompts memorized or saved somewhere. I mean, that stuff, I think, is all cool and impressive. And there’s this other thing where, like, they don’t really make life decisions without asking ChatGPT what they should do.”
This generational shift in how technology is adopted isn’t new, Altman pointed out. “It reminds me of, like, when the smartphone came out, and, like, every kid was able to use it super well. And older people, just like, took, like, three years to figure out how to do basic stuff.” The difference, he said, is “unbelievable.”
OpenAI’s meteoric rise has played a role in this transformation. Sequoia Capital, a venture firm with a history of backing tech giants like Nvidia, Reddit, and Apple, first invested in OpenAI in 2021 when the company was valued at $14 billion. Fast forward to 2026, and OpenAI’s valuation has soared to $852 billion following one of the largest private funding rounds in history, according to Fortune.
But what exactly are people doing with ChatGPT? The answer, it seems, is almost everything. Reports show users turn to the AI for relationship advice, business insights, medical questions, and even as a substitute for talk therapy. Some have even used ChatGPT to practice salary negotiations or tough conversations before they happen. In one remarkable case, a man let ChatGPT handle the sale of his home, beating every agent’s estimate by $100,000 and closing the deal in just five days.
Altman emphasized that younger users’ reliance on ChatGPT is enabled by its ability to remember previous conversations. “It has the full context on every person in their life and what they’ve talked about,” he said. This persistent memory allows for a more personalized, ongoing relationship with the AI—something that’s especially valuable for college students juggling academic, social, and personal challenges.
Yet, this growing dependence on AI for advice and decision-making isn’t without controversy. Experts in psychology, business, and medicine are divided on whether it’s safe—or even advisable—to consult ChatGPT for major life decisions. A November 2023 study, cited by Fortune, highlighted the need for caution: “highlights the need for caution when using ChatGPT for safety-related information and expert verification, as well as the need for ethical considerations and safeguards to ensure users understand the limitations and receive appropriate advice.”
Another study went further, describing large language models like ChatGPT as “inherently sociopathic,” making it difficult to trust their advice on sensitive matters. Still, other research and real-world experiments suggest that using ChatGPT for common advice is often harmless—and can even be helpful. The debate is far from settled, and OpenAI has not publicly responded to questions about the safety or reliability of using ChatGPT for advice.
As generational differences in usage patterns play out, the underlying technology is also advancing at breakneck speed. On May 9, 2026, Altman took to Twitter to share his optimism and surprise at the capabilities of GPT-5.5, the latest iteration of OpenAI’s core model. In a tweet, he wrote, “5.5 is an autistic genius with very strange taste in naming,” and admitted, “shocking that we would make such a thing.”
Altman’s tweets hinted at a future where AI tools like GPT-5.5 will do far more than answer questions. He described delegating several Codex-related coding tasks to GPT-5.5, then stepping away to spend time with his child, only to return later and find all the tasks completed. “Kicking off a bunch of codex tasks, running around with my kid in the sunshine, and then coming back at naptime to find them all completed makes me very optimistic for the future,” Altman tweeted.
According to News18, Altman envisions a new generation of AI chatbots that will move beyond simple conversation. These systems are expected to autonomously complete tasks, support users in coding, research, and office work, and integrate more deeply into daily workflows. The promise is that AI will help people streamline mundane duties, freeing up time and mental energy for more meaningful pursuits.
The implications of these advancements are profound. If AI can handle complex tasks independently, it could fundamentally reshape how people work, learn, and make decisions. For younger generations already treating ChatGPT as an “operating system,” this future may arrive sooner than many expect.
Yet, as with any technological leap, there are questions about trust, safety, and ethics. The studies warning about the limitations and potential drawbacks of AI advice remind us that even as the tools become more powerful, human judgment and oversight remain critical. As Altman himself acknowledged, the pace of change can be “shocking”—and the responsibility to use these tools wisely is greater than ever.
For now, the generational divide in AI usage is both a sign of how quickly technology is evolving and a glimpse into a future where artificial intelligence is not just a tool, but an integral part of daily life. Whether people are seeking advice, automating work, or simply finding new ways to connect, the story of ChatGPT is one of transformation—and it’s only just beginning.