A new report⁠(opens in a new window) from OpenAI shows more than one-third of college-aged young adults in the US use ChatGPT, and approximately a quarter of the messages they send are related to learning and school work — from starting papers and projects, to exploring topics and brainstorming creative ideas. While adoption of ChatGPT among 18-24 year olds is strong, it varies significantly by state — California, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York have the nation’s highest adoption rates, while those in Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and West Virginia have relatively low adoption rates.

Early studies⁠(opens in a new window) show employers prefer hiring candidates with AI skills over more experienced ones without them, and AI tools like ChatGPT have been shown to significantly boost worker productivity⁠(opens in a new window). The full impact is still unfolding, but state-by-state differences in student AI adoption could create gaps in workforce productivity and economic development, impacting US competitiveness.

We’re committed to working with educators, policymakers, and community leaders to close these gaps, and make AI tools like ChatGPT widely available and responsibly integrated into learning. Our report outlines key proposals:

• Demystify AI: While three in four higher ed students want AI training, only one in four universities and colleges provide it. Programs to promote responsible use, address academic integrity concerns, and build proficiency in real-world applications like job searches, exam preparation and internships are key. 
• Drive Access: Many college students discover AI tools informally, and cost can be a barrier. By driving student awareness to ChatGPT’s free products, as well as subsidizing equitable access to the latest models, institutions can make AI available to students at scale.
• Develop policies: With the release of this report, OpenAI is updating our Economic Blueprint, our living document of policy proposals we support, to include specific proposals to support AI workforce development at the federal, state and local levels, such as:
  • Federal Action: Expand 529 savings plans to include AI-oriented apprenticeships.
  • State legislation: Establish AI literacy frameworks (similar to ISTE Standards) in core curriculum for students and professional development for teachers, while allowing states to tailor programs to local contexts.
  • Workforce Development: Incentivize public-private partnerships to assess AI workforce needs, create training pipelines, and collaborate with labor unions, community colleges, and other institutions that provide training. 

By supporting AI literacy programs, expanding access to AI, and developing policies to make AI training accessible and affordable, we can help students across the country build a stronger foundation for the future — and equip the workforce with the skills needed to thrive in an evolving, AI-driven economy.

We welcome insights from states, universities, colleges and schools to better understand how we can advance research and drive progress in this space. If you’d like to share your feedback, or if you’re a state or university official interested in exploring our data further or receiving more detailed data on your state, click here⁠(opens in a new window).