Sam Altman reveals the generational gap of ChatGPT: elders only use it like Google, young people see it as a "life mentor," and when eating, sleeping, or buying stocks, they ask AI first

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed a surprising generational observation at the AI Ascent conference hosted by Sequoia Capital: older users treat ChatGPT as a substitute for Google, the 20 to 30-year-old demographic sees it as a life advisor, and Generation Z directly uses it as an “operating system.” Altman pointed out that this group of college-aged users even consult ChatGPT before making major life decisions. According to OpenAI’s official report from February 2025, over one-third of young Americans aged 18 to 24 are using ChatGPT, making them the fastest-growing user group in the U.S., with 70% of Generation Z using AI weekly, compared to only 20% of the Baby Boomer generation.
(Background: Humanity, prepare for unemployment! Sam Altman predicts: by 2030, AGI will replace 40% of the global workforce)
(Additional context: Sam Altman from a new dad’s perspective on AI’s future: humanoid robots are coming, are you ready?)

Table of Contents

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• Three-tier usage: from search engine to operating system
• How Generation Z uses it: connecting lectures, cloud, and calendar
• Asking ChatGPT before making decisions is now routine
• Hidden concerns behind the generational gap

The same tool is used very differently across generations—this is the core insight Sam Altman shared at the Sequoia Capital AI Ascent conference. He said the generational gap in usage methods is “stunning,” reminding him of the early days of smartphone adoption: kids pick it up in days, while older adults spend three years still figuring out basic functions.

Three-tier usage: from search engine to operating system

Altman clearly divides ChatGPT user behavior into three levels. The older generation’s approach is the most intuitive—treat it like Google, input questions, get answers, with interaction patterns almost identical to traditional search engines. The 20 to 30-year-old group takes it further, positioning ChatGPT as a “life advisor,” consulting it for career planning, relationship troubles, financial decisions, and more.

Meanwhile, Generation Z—especially college students or recent graduates—uses ChatGPT on an entirely different level. Altman describes it as an “operating system,” meaning this group doesn’t see ChatGPT as a single-function tool but as the core infrastructure powering their entire workflow.

How Generation Z uses it: connecting lectures, cloud, and calendar

According to Fortune, Generation Z’s deep integration with ChatGPT far exceeds expectations. They connect ChatGPT to class notes, PDFs, cloud storage, calendars, and even development tools, creating reusable prompt templates for writing, research, scheduling, and software development across various scenarios.

This isn’t just asking a question occasionally; it’s embedding AI into daily workflows—more like how people use macOS or Windows rather than relying on a specific app. That’s why Altman chose the term “operating system”: it’s foundational, omnipresent, and difficult to switch away from.

Asking ChatGPT before making decisions is now routine

Altman made a startling statement at the conference: “Some college-aged young adults don’t really make life decisions without asking ChatGPT what they should do.” (Some college-aged young adults don’t really make life decisions without asking ChatGPT what they should do.)

Data supports this observation. The official report from OpenAI in February 2025 shows that over one-third of U.S. users aged 18 to 24 are using ChatGPT, making them the fastest-growing demographic across all age groups. Another survey indicates that 70% of Generation Z use AI tools weekly, compared to only 20% of the Baby Boomer generation (born 1946–1964).

Hidden concerns behind the generational gap

Altman’s observation reveals more than just differences in usage habits; it highlights a fundamental divergence in cognitive frameworks. For older generations, AI is an auxiliary tool; for Generation Z, AI is becoming an integral part of the thinking process itself.

This raises a critical question: as one generation becomes accustomed to consulting AI before making decisions, will independent judgment, critical thinking, and even the accumulated life experience from mistakes be systematically weakened? There’s no definitive answer yet, but the weight of this issue is rising in tandem with the deep infiltration of ChatGPT into Generation Z’s daily life.