While headlines often predict AI as a job-stealing or school-disrupting force, a new study by David Deming, Danoff Dean of Harvard College, presents a more grounded reality for students and employees. According to the Harvard Gazette, most people use ChatGPT not to outsource entire assignments or projects, but as a practical assistant, adviser, and guide in everyday tasks.
From research helper to personal tutor
Deming’s research highlights that young adults, particularly college students, are among the heaviest users of ChatGPT. People aged 18 to 25 generate nearly half of the platform’s 2.6 billion daily messages. For students, the tool has become a digital study partner, helping with research, summarising readings, and providing explanations on topics ranging from literature to math.Rather than doing work for students, ChatGPT often serves as a learning aid. It allows users to test ideas, clarify concepts, and receive structured guidance without replacing the critical thinking required to complete assignments. This interactive approach encourages students to engage actively with material, reflecting a more collaborative than substitutive role.Personal usage dominates student interactions, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all messages among young adults. Requests fall into several categories: seeking information, practical guidance, and light work-related support. Information-seeking functions like a conversational Google search, providing quick and digestible answers, while practical guidance helps students with tasks such as planning study schedules, drafting summaries, or preparing for exams.
Boosting productivity without replacing jobs
For employees, ChatGPT has been adopted as a versatile workplace tool. Work-related messages are less common than personal queries but remain significant. The study found that professionals in white-collar roles use ChatGPT for documenting information, summarising reports, editing content, and decision support—tasks that are universal across industries.Contrary to fears of AI replacing entry-level positions, Deming’s findings indicate that ChatGPT enhances productivity rather than replacing employees. For example, educators rely on it for organising lesson plans and summarising research, while sales or management professionals use it for problem-solving and preparing client-facing materials. Writing-related tasks have declined over time, and most of the AI-supported work involves refining, summarising, or translating existing material, rather than generating entirely new work.This trend highlights ChatGPT’s adaptive assistance: it helps employees complete tasks faster and more efficiently, but does not eliminate the need for human judgment or expertise. The AI becomes a partner in work, rather than a replacement, allowing employees to focus on higher-level responsibilities that require creativity and critical thinking.
Closing gaps and democratising access
The Harvard Gazette notes that ChatGPT’s adoption is closing traditional demographic gaps. Initially dominated by male users, the platform now has a balanced gender distribution, and usage is spreading quickly in middle-income countries. For students and employees alike, this means more equitable access to AI tools that support learning and work, regardless of location or background.
Practical impacts on learning and work
For both students and employees, the key takeaway is that ChatGPT is a practical, everyday tool. It supports learning, research, and routine work tasks, while encouraging interaction, problem-solving, and independent thinking. The AI’s versatility ensures that it enhances performance in a wide range of contexts—from completing homework more efficiently to organising professional tasks—without undermining the skills and judgment required for success.By focusing on the student and employee experience, Deming’s research, as highlighted by the Harvard Gazette, challenges exaggerated narratives about AI disruption. Instead, it presents a picture of gradual, practical integration, where AI becomes a companion that augments human effort and makes learning and work more manageable and accessible.
