*OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently shed light on a behavioral pattern that has been quietly developing across age groups. Speaking at Sequoia Capital’s AI Ascent event, Altman described a generational divide in how people are using ChatGPT that goes far beyond simple productivity.
“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 said, per Times Now News.
Many college-aged users have built out sophisticated personal systems — tying ChatGPT to their files, storing detailed prompts, and channeling major life decisions through it. Altman acknowledged the ambition behind those setups. “I mean, that stuff, I think, is all cool and impressive,” he said. His tone shifted, however, when addressing something he found harder to dismiss. “And there’s this other thing where, like, they don’t really make life decisions without asking ChatGPT what they should do.”
The memory feature plays a central role in that growing reliance. By holding onto context from previous conversations, ChatGPT accumulates an unusually detailed understanding of a user’s personal life. “It has the full context on every person in their life and what they’ve talked about,” Altman said.
Scroll to continue reading
People are now using ChatGPT far beyond professional tasks, turning to it for relationship issues, health questions, financial decisions, and emotional support. In some cases, users are even choosing it over traditional therapy.
Researchers remain split on the implications. A peer-reviewed 2023 study urged caution around safety-related use and called for clearer safeguards, while another described large language models as “inherently sociopathic.” Still, some studies have found the tool reasonably reliable for routine, everyday guidance.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Walmart and OpenAI Launch AI Shopping with ChatGPT
Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE
