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The Adoption of ChatGPT

Author

Listed:
  • Humlum, Anders

    (University of Chicago Booth School of Business)

  • Vestergaard, Emilie

    (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

We study the adoption of ChatGPT, the icon of Generative AI, using a large-scale survey experiment linked to comprehensive register data in Denmark. Surveying 100,000 workers from 11 exposed occupations, we document ChatGPT is pervasive: half of workers have used it, with younger, less experienced, higher-achieving, and especially male workers leading the curve. Why have some workers adopted ChatGPT, and others not? Workers see a substantial productivity potential in ChatGPT but are often hindered by employer restrictions and required training. Informing workers about expert assessments of ChatGPT shifts workers' beliefs and intentions but has limited impacts on actual adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Humlum, Anders & Vestergaard, Emilie, 2024. "The Adoption of ChatGPT," IZA Discussion Papers 16992, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16992
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Paul E. Soto, 2025. "Research in Commotion: Measuring AI Research and Development through Conference Call Transcripts," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2025-011, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    2. Fabian Kosse & Tim Leffler & Arna Woemmel, 2025. "Digital Skills: Social Disparities and the Impact of Early Mentoring," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1222, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    3. Christoph Riedl & Eric Bogert, 2024. "Who Benefits from AI? Self-Selection, Skill Gap, and the Hidden Costs of AI Feedback," Papers 2409.18660, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2026.
    4. Konstantinos Pouliakas & Giulia Santangelo & Paul Dupire, 2025. "Are artificial intelligence skills a reward or a gamble? Deconstructing the AI wage premium in Europe," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 15(4), pages 1091-1128, December.
    5. Cathy Yang & David Restrepo Amariles & Leo Allen & Aurore Troussel, 2025. "GPT Adoption and the Impact of Disclosure Policies," Papers 2504.01566, arXiv.org.
    6. Pulito, Giuseppe & Pytlikova, Mariola & Schroede, Sarah & Lodefalk, Magnus, 2026. "Who Adopts AI? Evidence on Firms, Technologies and Worker," Working Papers 2026:3, Örebro University, School of Business.
    7. Benjamin G. Hyman & Benjamin Lahey & Karen Ni & Laura Pilossoph, 2025. "How Retrainable are AI-Exposed Workers?," NBER Working Papers 34174, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Liu, Yan & Huang, Jingyun & Wang, He, 2025. "Who on Earth Is Using Generative AI ? Global Trends and Shifts in 2025," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11231, The World Bank.
    9. Pulito, Giuseppe & Pytlikova, Mariola & Schroeder, Sarah & Lodefalk, Magnus, 2026. "Who Adopts AI? Evidence on Firms, Technologies and Workers," IZA Discussion Papers 18515, IZA Network @ LISER.
    10. Yan Liu & He Wang, 2024. "Who on Earth Is Using Generative AI ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10870, The World Bank.
    11. Liu, Yan & Wang, He, 2026. "Who on earth is using Generative AI?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    12. Nikolaos Askitas, 2025. "The Behavioral Signature of GenAI in Scientific Communication," CESifo Working Paper Series 12069, CESifo.
    13. Yaser Hasan Al-Mamary & Adel Abdulmohsen Alfalah & Mohammad Mulayh Alshammari & Aliyu Alhaji Abubakar, 2024. "Exploring factors influencing university students’ intentions to use ChatGPT: analysing task-technology fit theory to enhance behavioural intentions in higher education," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
    14. Fabian Kosse & Tim Leffler & Arna Woemmel, 2024. "Digital Skills: Social Disparities and the Impact of Early Mentoring," CESifo Working Paper Series 11570, CESifo.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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