OpenAI Signals the Globalization of ChatGPT Use

OpenAI Signals data shows ChatGPT usage is growing globally, with Africa, Asia, and non-English users—led by Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic—driving growth.

OpenAI is documenting the evolution of ChatGPT usage through Signals, its aggregated data system covering individual subscriptions (Free, Go, Plus, and Pro). Two trends emerge: a deepening of usage over time and increasingly global adoption.

Regarding the first point, users intensify their reliance on the tool over the months. Six months after creating their account, they send, on average, 50% more daily messages than when they started and have doubled the number of distinct tasks attempted on the platform, measured via a classifier that sorts messages into 53 categories.

Geographically, OpenAI reports progress on all continents since July 2023, with Africa and Asia showing the strongest relative growth. The same observation applies to countries with the lowest Human Development Index, which are experiencing the fastest increase in weekly active users.

The user base is also diversifying linguistically. According to the publisher, individuals primarily using a language other than English now represent more than half of active users, with Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic leading among non-English languages. In terms of usage share, Uzbek, Kazakh, and Burmese are growing the fastest.

These figures are based on a 0.1% sample of accounts and exclude individuals under 18. OpenAI positions Signals as a tool for researchers and policymakers to monitor the effect of AI on the economy.