Thought leaders dubbed ChatGPT’s emergence - and subsequent generative AI proliferation - as the “fourth industrial age.”

Whether it will re-shape the economy entirely still remains to be seen. But there’s no denying that most people are familiar with, and are actively using AI.

What are they using it for?

This ranking tracks the most popular AI use cases as sourced from an analysis done by Marc Zao-Sanders for Harvard Business Review. He examined thousands of forum posts over the last year in a follow-up to his 2024 analysis.

The top 30 ranks from this report have been visualized in this graphic via Visual Capitalist's Pallavi Rao. Labels have been edited lightly from the source for readability. 

This visualization is part of Visual Capitalist’s AI Week, sponsored by Terzo.

People are using AI for support (both professional and personal) in 2025

In fact, the top three use cases (therapy, life organization, and finding purpose) all show that AI can assist humans in managing both emotions and their life.

2024Use CaseCategory2025Use CaseCategory1Generate IdeasContent
Creation1Therapy & CompanionshipSupport2Therapy & CompanionshipSupport2Organize LifeSupport3Specific SearchResearch
& Analysis3Find PurposeSupport4Edit textContent
Creation4Enhance LearningLearning &
Education5Explore InterestsLearning &
Education5Generate CodeTechnical
Assistance6Fun & NonsenseCreativity &
Recreation6Generate IdeasContent
Creation7TroubleshootTechnical
Assistance7Fun & NonsenseCreativity &
Recreation8Enhance LearningLearning &
Education8Improve CodeTechnical
Assistance9Personalize LearningLearning &
Education9CreativityContent
Creation10General adviceSupport10Healthy LivingSupport11Draft emailsContent
Creation11Interview PreparationLearning &
Education12ExplainersLearning &
Education12Generate ImagesCreativity &
Recreation13Write & Edit RésuméSupport13Specific SearchResearch
& Analysis14Excel FormulasTechnical
Assistance14ExplainersLearning &
Education15Email WritingContent
Creation15Cooking GuidanceCreativity &
Recreation16Evaluate CopyResearch
& Analysis16TroubleshootTechnical
Assistance17Improve DecisionsResearch
& Analysis17Personalize LearningLearning &
Education18TranslationTechnical
Assistance18Boost ConfidenceSupport19Improve CodeTechnical
Assistance19Email WritingContent
Creation20Draft DocumentContent
Creation20Explain LegaleseTechnical
Assistance21Navigate
Personal DisputesSupport21Child EntertainmentCreativity &
Recreation22Summarize ContentLearning &
Education22Corporate LLMSupport23Make a ComplaintSupport23Student EssaysLearning &
Education24RecommendationsCreativity &
Recreation24Travel ItinerarySupport25Cooking GuidanceCreativity &
Recreation25Childcare HelpCreativity &
Recreation26Generate AppraisalsContent
Creation26Medical AdviceSupport27CreativityContent
Creation27Navigate Personal DisputesSupport28Medical AdviceSupport28Generate Legal DocumentContent
Creation29Generate
Legal DocumentContent
Creation29ConversationsSupport30Fix CodeTechnical
Assistance30Anti-trollingContent
Creation

And aside from therapy, these were not the top uses in 2024: which revolved around idea generation and search.

Speaking of AI search, its popularity has fallen 10 spots. People are still interested in learning and making AI explain concepts or add context for them. But they’re not actively looking up information as much.

(This may also be because of Gemini’s integration in Google Search).

With mental health support severely underfunded and the Loneliness Epidemic only continuing, it’s no surprise AI has emerged as a viable outlet for people to get some support in their life.

Experts say they can see its usefulness for teaching mindfulness or cognitive behavioral therapy to users.

However, the problem occurs when AI is used as a replacement for actual human relationships, preventing deeper human connections, in turn exacerbating loneliness.

Need More AI Insights? From our AI Week coverage, brought to you by Terzo, check out the Countries Accumulating the Most AI Patents and much more on the AI content hub and discover where the future of AI is going to emerge.