The way people use AI chatbots is shifting. A year ago, most users turned to tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT for coding help and software tasks. That made sense since early adopters were largely from the tech crowd. But recent data shows this pattern is changing fast.
By early 2025, software-related prompts have dropped sharply. Back in spring 2024, software development made up 44% of all user prompts. Now it's down to 29%. In its place, a wide mix of new topics has appeared. People are asking more about personal finance, economics, entertainment, history, and education.
The biggest jump has come from people trying to sort out their finances. Over the past year, prompts about money, taxes, and the wider economy have grown faster than any other category. These now account for 13% of prompts, up from just 4% last year. More people seem to be asking chatbots to help explain things like inflation, tariffs, or how to handle their budgets.
Interest in entertainment, history, and general learning has picked up too. Chatbots are becoming a place for people to explore not just work topics but everyday questions and personal interests. At the same time, prompts about artificial intelligence and machine learning have slipped a little, from 15% to 14%. People aren’t just curious about AI anymore, they’re more focused on what they can do with it.
This shift shows that AI tools are now reaching far beyond the early tech-savvy crowd. The kinds of questions people are asking reveal what’s on their minds, what they find confusing, and what choices they’re trying to make.
For businesses, this change could be useful. Prompt data may soon become a key way to track what people are interested in across different industries. Companies might start using this insight to follow new trends or to understand what their customers are really thinking about.
The growing variety of prompts paints a simple picture: AI chatbots aren’t just for coding anymore. They’re turning into everyday tools that help people make sense of their world.
Source: SensorTower - How ChatGPT is Reshaping Consumer Life
Read next: Researchers Examine How AI Interprets Human Personality Using Language and Psychological Models
By early 2025, software-related prompts have dropped sharply. Back in spring 2024, software development made up 44% of all user prompts. Now it's down to 29%. In its place, a wide mix of new topics has appeared. People are asking more about personal finance, economics, entertainment, history, and education.
The biggest jump has come from people trying to sort out their finances. Over the past year, prompts about money, taxes, and the wider economy have grown faster than any other category. These now account for 13% of prompts, up from just 4% last year. More people seem to be asking chatbots to help explain things like inflation, tariffs, or how to handle their budgets.
Interest in entertainment, history, and general learning has picked up too. Chatbots are becoming a place for people to explore not just work topics but everyday questions and personal interests. At the same time, prompts about artificial intelligence and machine learning have slipped a little, from 15% to 14%. People aren’t just curious about AI anymore, they’re more focused on what they can do with it.
This shift shows that AI tools are now reaching far beyond the early tech-savvy crowd. The kinds of questions people are asking reveal what’s on their minds, what they find confusing, and what choices they’re trying to make.
For businesses, this change could be useful. Prompt data may soon become a key way to track what people are interested in across different industries. Companies might start using this insight to follow new trends or to understand what their customers are really thinking about.
The growing variety of prompts paints a simple picture: AI chatbots aren’t just for coding anymore. They’re turning into everyday tools that help people make sense of their world.
| ChatGPT Prompt Topics | March 2024 - Apr 24 | March 2025 - April 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Software Development | 44% | 29% |
| History & Society | 13% | 15% |
| AI & Machine Learning | 15% | 14% |
| Economics, Finance, & Tax | 4% | 13% |
| Entertainment | 6% | 8% |
| Education & Academia | 6% | 7% |
| Tech Brands & Platforms | 4% | 5% |
| Law & Legal | 3% | 4% |
| US Politics & Government | 2% | 3% |
| Climate & Environment | 3% | 2% |
Source: SensorTower - How ChatGPT is Reshaping Consumer Life
Read next: Researchers Examine How AI Interprets Human Personality Using Language and Psychological Models
