Data-driven insights on the shift from cool tool to global utility
If you look at the headlines about tools like Claude Code and OpenAI Codex, or hear about programmers using LLMs to reach unprecedented levels of efficiency, you might think that everyone is starting to use AI to write computer code, turning prompts into programs and programmers into managers of machines. However, the recent NBER working paper “How People Use ChatGPT,” co-written by HBS AI Institute Associate David Deming, tells a very different story. If the dominant use case isn’t code generation, then the value proposition of AI looks quite different than many assume.
Why This Matters
This research highlights that one of ChatGPT’s primary values in the workplace is decision support, a universal need that transcends specific job titles or industries. Whether in sales, engineering, or management, professionals are using AI to interpret information and solve problems more effectively. Business leaders and executives must recognize that AI adoption isn’t just a technical upgrade for the IT department, it’s a fundamental shift in how every employee processes information and executes decisions. Part of the strategic imperative then is to understand what questions your people are bringing to it, and whether those questions are the right ones.
Link to the HBS AI Institute Insight Article
Link to the Research Paper
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