New Zealanders are sending nearly 10 million messages to ChatGPT daily, driven by a surge in workplace adoption where the top 10% of enterprises generate 14 times more output per worker than typical companies, according to new data released by OpenAI.
ChatGPT Usage Soars Across New Zealand Workplaces
OpenAI data reveals that New Zealand ranks within the top 40 markets globally for overall ChatGPT use per capita. According to Chloe Browne, OpenAI’s head of communications for New Zealand and Australia, weekly active users across the country have grown by more than 20% over the past year.
A survey commissioned by OpenAI shows that 40% of respondents use the platform every day. Furthermore, 45% of surveyed users reported that the tool saved them at least four hours each week.
Did you know? New Zealand businesses are heavily utilizing “agentic” AI tools—systems capable of handling multi-step tasks like research, data analysis, and presentation prep—with nearly half of enterprise output now coming from these advanced features, according to OpenAI.
The Widening Gap Between AI Leaders and Laggards
While adoption is climbing, the benefits are distributed unevenly. OpenAI figures show that the top 10% of businesses using its products generate 14 times as many output tokens per worker as a typical business.
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Gawesha Weeratunga from OpenAI’s Economic Research team explained during a BNZ Business Breakfast presentation that this performance gap is widening over time. “What we’re seeing though is that there is quite a big gap in terms of the businesses here in New Zealand who are embracing AI and using it for sort of agentic capabilities like taking on multi-step tasks,” Weeratunga said. He added that New Zealand businesses over-index on agentic adoption compared to global peers.
Why Access Alone Is Not Enough for AI Success
Providing employees with software licenses does not guarantee productivity gains. Companies driving the highest return from AI are actively investing in staff training and structured experimentation, according to OpenAI.
Organizations like Air New Zealand, One NZ, and Genesis Energy have engaged with OpenAI’s technology. Weeratunga emphasizes that internal initiatives such as hackathons, designated AI champions, and top-down executive support are crucial for giving teams the time and space needed to experiment effectively.
Without these investments, companies risk falling behind competitors. However, Weeratunga noted that questions remain regarding how directly this high volume of usage translates into improved bottom-line revenue for large enterprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many messages do New Zealanders send to ChatGPT daily?
New Zealanders send almost 10 million messages to ChatGPT every day, according to data from OpenAI.
https://x.com/WIONews/status/2095729193535656271
What percentage of New Zealand users use ChatGPT daily?
An OpenAI-commissioned survey indicates that 40% of respondents use the platform every day.
What are “agentic” AI tools?
Agentic tools are advanced AI systems capable of executing complex, multi-step workflows, such as conducting research, analyzing data, and developing presentations.
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