Gen Z Using ChatGPT as a Life Advisor: A Deeper Look at a Cultural Shift
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has made a striking observation about how different generations interact with ChatGPT. At Sequoia Capital’s AI Ascent event in May 2025, he drew a stark contrast: “Older people use ChatGPT as a Google replacement. Maybe people in their 20s and 30s use it as a life advisor, and then, like people in college use it as an operating system.”
What began as an off-the-cuff comment during a venture capital conference has crystallized into a broader cultural narrative. Young people across North America are indeed consulting ChatGPT before making major life decisions, and increasingly, minor ones too. The phenomenon raises compelling questions about autonomy, decision-making, mental health, and what it means for a generation to grow up with an AI confidant always at their fingertips.
The Generational Divide: How Different Ages Use ChatGPT
Older Users (40+): ChatGPT as Search Engine
Older generations tend to approach ChatGPT instrumentally, much like they once adapted to Google. They use it to retrieve factual information, look up definitions, or find quick answers to straightforward questions. It’s a tool that supplements or replaces traditional search.
Millennials and Gen X (25-40): ChatGPT as Life Coach
People in their 20s and 30s have begun treating ChatGPT differently. They consult it for relationship advice, career decisions, and personal dilemmas. One user described asking ChatGPT to “vibe check” an email one minute, then seeking career guidance the next, or decoding cryptic text messages from romantic interests. The AI becomes a sounding board, always available, never judgmental, and equipped with the memory of previous conversations.
Gen Z and College Students: ChatGPT as Operating System
The youngest cohort has gone furthest in their integration of ChatGPT. Rather than treating it as a single tool, college-aged users build elaborate workflows around it. They connect files to the system, memorize complex custom prompts, and reference saved instructions. For many, ChatGPT functions as a “personal OS” a central hub through which information flows and decisions get processed.
According to an OpenAI report published earlier in 2025, more than one-third of U.S. users aged 18-24 regularly use ChatGPT. Among even younger teens, adoption is climbing: a January 2024 Pew Research survey found that 26% of U.S. teens ages 13-17 used ChatGPT for schoolwork, a dramatic increase from just 13% in 2023.
Why Gen Z Relies on ChatGPT Before Making Decisions
The reasons for this reliance are rooted in both practical convenience and psychological appeal.
- Always-On Availability
ChatGPT is accessible 24/7 on smartphones and computers, aligning with the expectations of a generation that has never known life without instant connectivity. When a decision looms at 2 a.m., an answer is literally at your fingertips; however, the answers may not always be correct, leading people astray. - Memory and Personalization
Recent updates to ChatGPT allow the system to retain context across conversations. As Altman promoted, “It has the full context on every person in their life and what they’ve talked about.” This creates the illusion of a digital confidant who “knows you” your relationships, your fears, your ambitions. - Non-Judgmental Engagement
Unlike confiding in a parent, friend, or therapist, ChatGPT offers advice without judgment or social consequences. Users report being able to ask sensitive questions about relationships, health, sexuality, and mental health without fear of stigma or embarrassment. - Low Cost and High Accessibility
While therapy or coaching can cost hundreds of dollars per session, ChatGPT is free or inexpensive. For young people without access to mentors or professional counselors, this accessibility is genuinely valuable. - Complexity and Sophistication
Gen Z users don’t just ask simple questions. They build custom instructions, save complex prompts, and use the system across multiple domains, from homework help to relationship dilemmas to career planning. The sophistication of their use mirrors how they approach other digital tools, reflecting a generation fluent in technology from birth.
Specific Use Cases: What Gen Z Actually Asks ChatGPT
Reports and research reveal that young people are asking ChatGPT for guidance on an ever-widening range of topics:
- Relationships and Dating → Users ask for relationship advice, help decoding ambiguous messages from romantic interests, and guidance on breakups and long-distance relationships.
- Career and Educational Decisions → College selection, major choice, job interviews, and career pivots are common subjects.
- Medical and Health Questions → Some users consult ChatGPT about health concerns, mental health symptoms, and medical conditions, sometimes in place of consulting actual doctors.
- Mental Health and Therapy-Like Support → A growing segment treats ChatGPT as a substitute for or complement to therapy. Some use it to “think out loud” about personal struggles, processing emotions in a conversational format.
- Academic and Creative Work → College applicants use ChatGPT to brainstorm essay ideas, refine arguments, and polish writing, a phenomenon that has raised concerns about authenticity and self-concept development.
- Business and Professional Questions → Young entrepreneurs and early-career workers ask for business advice, strategic planning guidance, and problem-solving assistance.
The Smartphone Parallel: A Historical Analogy
Numerous sources have drawn comparisons to the smartphone revolution. Noting that when smartphones emerged, children instantly grasped their use while adults required years to master basic functions. The same pattern is emerging with ChatGPT: Gen Z is intuitively comfortable with the tool in ways that older generations struggle to match.
This analogy suggests several possibilities:
- Normalization → In 5-10 years, using AI as a life advisor may be as routine and unremarkable as checking email.
- Integration into institutions → Schools, workplaces, and healthcare systems may formally incorporate AI assistants into their operations.
- New skill requirements → “prompt “engineering” and AI literacy could become standard educational outcomes.
However, unlike smartphones, which primarily changed how we communicate and access information, ChatGPT raises stakes by influencing consequential life decisions. The parallel is instructive but incomplete.
What This Shift Means for Your Generation
The observation that Gen Z uses ChatGPT as a life advisor is neither an exaggeration nor a mere trend; it is a documented reality supported by usage statistics, research studies and countless user testimonies. The technology offers genuine benefits: accessibility, personalization, immediate feedback, and non-judgmental support.
For young people without access to mentors, therapists, or trusted advisors, ChatGPT can fill a meaningful gap. The platform represents democratized access to advice that was previously available only to those with resources.
Yet as we explore in the next article, the risks are equally real, and they deserve serious consideration from anyone building their life around AI guidance.
Disclaimer:
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before incorporating any new therapy into your practice.
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