The widespread adoption of large language model-assisted writing across society
Weixin Liang, Yaohui Zhang, Mihai Codreanu, Jiayu Wang, Hancheng Cao, James Zou
Abstract
This paper systematically analyzes the adoption of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, across consumer complaints, corporate press releases, job postings, and United Nations (UN) press releases, covering extensive datasets from January 2022 to September 2024. By late 2024, roughly 18% of financial consumer complaints, 24% of corporate press releases, nearly 10% of job postings in small firms, and 14% of UN press releases involve LLM-assisted writing. Adoption surged rapidly post-ChatGPT release but stabilized by 2024, highlighting generative artificial intelligence (AI)’s broad societal impact and its widespread use across sectors. • Systematic analysis of 687,241 consumer complaints and 537,413 corporate press releases • Rapid initial adoption post-ChatGPT, with 24% LLM use in corporate communications by 2024 • 304.3 million job postings show nearly 10% LLM adoption, higher in young firms • UN press releases (15,919 analyzed) exhibit 14% adoption of generative AI Large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, represent a transformative development in artificial intelligence (AI), significantly impacting how individuals, businesses, and institutions communicate. Yet, despite widespread interest and extensive media coverage, systematic insights into how widely and why different organizations adopt these powerful tools remain limited. Understanding adoption patterns across various sectors—including consumer interactions, corporate communications, labor markets, and international organizations—can inform public policy, address concerns about fairness and trust, and help businesses manage the implications of AI integration. By systematically examining LLM usage across diverse domains, our analysis provides crucial context for policymakers, organizational leaders, and the public to better navigate the benefits, challenges, and societal implications of integrating generative AI into everyday communication. This study explores AI-generated writing adoption across consumer complaints, corporate press releases, job postings, and international organization communications, revealing widespread use following ChatGPT’s release. Findings highlight significant generative AI integration by small firms, corporations, and global institutions, emphasizing its transformative impact on communication practices, business strategies, and public policy.