OpenAI says AI saves knowledge workers 40‑80 minutes; use yields five‑fold gains
OpenAI’s latest internal study puts a concrete number on a promise that’s been tossed around for months: knowledge workers who lean on its generative models can shave somewhere between forty and eighty minutes off their day. The data come from a survey of thousands of employees across a mix of industries, all of whom were asked how often they turned to the chatbot for routine tasks, drafting, data summarisation and the like. Not every respondent reported the same boost; the spread is tied to how many different chores they let the system handle.
Those who confined the AI to a handful of familiar functions saw modest gains, while a subset that experimented across a broader set of activities logged dramatically larger time cuts. The findings also hint that deeper features—such as the model’s capacity for extensive research and multi‑step reasoning—are being tapped by the most enthusiastic users. In short, the study suggests that the breadth of adoption may be the key driver behind the headline‑grabbing minutes saved.
The more you use, the more you save Time savings depend on how broadly workers use AI. Those who apply it to around seven different task types report five times more time savings than users who stick to just four task types. Heavy users also tap into advanced features like deep research and reasoning models more often.
75 percent of users also say they can now handle tasks they couldn't do before--things like programming support, code review, spreadsheet analysis, automation, and building technical tools. Users saving more than ten hours per week consume eight times more credits than those reporting no time savings. Enterprise adoption keeps climbing Message volume on ChatGPT Enterprise has grown eightfold since November 2024, while Enterprise seats increased ninefold year-over-year.
Average reasoning token consumption per organization jumped 320-fold, which OpenAI says indicates increased use of advanced AI models that think longer and generate more tokens. Whether token consumption actually measures AI success is debatable. The median industry grew more than sixfold year-over-year.
Technology leads with 11x growth, followed by healthcare (8x) and manufacturing (7x). By total customer count, Professional Services, Finance, and Technology have the most ChatGPT Enterprise users. Weekly users of custom GPTs and projects increased 19-fold.
About 20 percent of all enterprise messages now go through a custom GPT or project. API usage patterns differ by industry: tech companies mainly build customer-facing applications like in-app assistants, professional services firms focus on coding and developer tools, and financial companies often start with customer support. International growth has outpaced the US overall, according to OpenAI.
The report says ChatGPT Enterprise users shave roughly 40 to 60 minutes from a typical workday, with data‑science, engineering and communications staff reporting up to 80 minutes saved. Seventy‑five percent of respondents claim AI has boosted either speed or quality, and 87 percent of IT workers note faster problem‑solving. Yet the figures come from a single survey, so external validation is lacking.
Heavy users—those who apply AI to about seven task types—report five‑fold greater time savings than colleagues who limit themselves to four tasks, and they tend to tap advanced features such as deep research and reasoning. “The more you use, the more you save,” the report quips, echoing the correlation between breadth of use and reported efficiency.
But does the reported time reclaimed translate into measurable productivity gains for firms? The data do not clarify how savings affect output, revenue or employee satisfaction. Unclear whether the self‑reported improvements hold across diverse organizational contexts, or if they persist as novelty wears off.
Further Reading
- OpenAI claims generative AI saves knowledge workers 40 to 80 minutes a day - The Decoder
- The state of enterprise AI 2025 - OpenAI
- OpenAI Survey Shows Major Productivity Surge Among Customers: How Much Time Did Heavy Users Save? - Stocktwits News
- OpenAI's Productivity Numbers Look Great. Independent Researchers Aren't So Sure. - Implicator
- AI linked to a fourfold increase in productivity growth and 56% wage premium, while jobs grow even in the most easily automated roles – PwC 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer - PwC (via PR Newswire)
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Common Questions Answered
How many minutes per workday do ChatGPT Enterprise users shave off according to OpenAI’s internal study?
The report states that ChatGPT Enterprise users typically save roughly 40 to 60 minutes each day. In specific roles such as data‑science, engineering, and communications, respondents reported savings of up to 80 minutes per workday.
What effect does applying AI to around seven different task types have on time savings for knowledge workers?
Heavy users who employ AI across about seven task types experience five‑fold greater time savings than those who limit themselves to four tasks. This broader usage amplifies efficiency by unlocking advanced features like deep research and reasoning models.
Which employee groups reported the highest time‑saving benefits, and what magnitude of savings did they see?
Data‑science, engineering, and communications staff reported the largest gains, with some individuals saving as much as 80 minutes per day. These groups benefit most because their workflows often involve complex analysis and content creation that AI can accelerate.
What proportion of respondents said AI enabled them to perform tasks they previously couldn’t, and what are some examples of those new capabilities?
Seventy‑five percent of survey participants indicated that AI allowed them to tackle tasks they couldn’t do before. Examples include programming support, code review, spreadsheet analysis, and automation of routine processes.