For many people, AI has evolved beyond a simple information retrieval tool—it’s become a personal health coach, tutor, confidant, companion, and even a therapist. But what determines which role the technology plays at any given moment?
Understanding the When and How of AI Use
This question drove Microsoft to conduct a comprehensive study analyzing 37.5 million anonymized user conversations with Copilot, the company’s flagship AI chatbot. The results, published recently, reveal that people’s AI usage fluctuates dramatically depending on the time of day, day of the week, and season of the year, with striking differences in the types of questions asked on desktop versus mobile devices.
Most notably, mobile users are seeking significantly more personal advice than their desktop counterparts. The study illuminates some of the more intimate uses of AI chatbots during a time of intense debate over how closely these tools should be woven into our daily lives and the potential risks associated with their use.
Key Findings from the Research
Previous research has demonstrated that as AI chatbots become more sophisticated, they’re responding to an increasingly diverse range of queries. A study conducted by OpenAI in September found that 70% of all ChatGPT messages are non-work-related (up from 53% the previous year), with “practical guidance” being among the most common uses.
The Microsoft study aimed to dig deeper into understanding not just what people do with AI, but when and how they do it. The company collected its database of millions of conversations between January and September, excluding any chats from enterprise or commercial Copilot accounts.
Health and Fitness Takes Center Stage
One of the most notable discoveries was the prevalence of conversations related to health and fitness, particularly on mobile devices. It ranked as the third most common topic after “technology” and “work and career,” highlighting what researchers described as “a growing user trust in Copilot, as individuals increasingly view it not only as a source of information but as a reliable source of advice.”
Time-Based Patterns Emerge
Conversation topics were found to vary significantly over time. On desktop, “work and career” dominated during traditional business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), which comes as no surprise. However, users across both platforms seemed to grow more introspective late at night—researchers reported a spike in “religion and philosophy” discussions during the wee hours.
Conversations regarding “personal growth and wellness” and “relationships” also surged in February, particularly in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day and on the holiday itself.
Desktop vs. Mobile: A Clear Divide
The biggest difference between the two modalities, according to the report, is that desktop users focused more on career-related queries, while mobile users asked more personal questions.
The Microsoft researchers note that this could lead to a split in future AI product development: desktop agents built to “optimize for information density and workflow execution,” and mobile agents that “prioritize empathy, brevity, and personal guidance.”
The Bigger Picture
The study reveals a relationship between humans and AI that’s multifaceted and nuanced. “By disentangling seasonality, daily rhythms, and device-level differences, we move beyond the monolithic view of ‘AI usage’ to reveal a technology that has integrated into the full texture of human life,” the company wrote in its report.
Microsoft has clear incentives to portray this integration positively. The more personal and work-related conversations people have with their chatbot, the more effectively it can craft outputs to keep users engaged, giving it a competitive advantage over other AI industry giants like Google, Anthropic, and Amazon.
Concerns About Personal AI Reliance
However, it’s far from certain that growing reliance on fallible chatbots for personal matters—such as health and relationships—is in our best interest. Some companies, like xAI and Meta, have actively embraced so-called AI “companions”—virtual avatars attached to large language models that can build detailed user profiles over time—as a means of commercializing AI, which could pose especially significant risks for underage users.
While we should all exercise caution about the personal information we disclose to AI tools and the accuracy of the advice they provide, Microsoft’s new study helps reveal an undeniable fact: these systems are playing an increasingly central and influential role in our world—for better or worse.
As AI continues to evolve and integrate more deeply into our daily routines, understanding these usage patterns becomes crucial for developing responsible AI policies and safeguards that protect users while maximizing the technology’s benefits.
