Picture this: It’s 2025, and you're winding down after a long workday. Instead of turning to friends or family, you find yourself sharing thoughts with a digital companion—Generative AI (GenAI). Surprisingly, this isn't science fiction; it’s reality for many. Let’s dive deeper into why Therapy and Companionship tops the charts in GenAI usage, and how your business can tap into this fascinating trend for everyone's benefit.
GenAI's Surprising Top Use: Therapy and Companionship
According to a compelling study By Marc Zao-Sanders on filtered.com, the number one reason people use GenAI in 2025 is for Therapy / Companionship. The GenAI “listens” and provides empathetic responses. The emphasis on listens is mine as most of the time people are still typing away even though GenAI can now respond to your talking.
Irony Alert: Humans vs. GenAI Insights
Interestingly, when asked directly, GenAI reports its most frequent usage as "Answering General Questions." This contradiction between human research findings and GenAI's own insights highlights a playful irony. Yes, humans still hold some analytical advantages over AI—but perhaps not for long. (That's a conversation for another day!)
Let’s Dive In
Rather than refining my GenAI prompt, let’s just dive into the researched findings of Therapy / Companionship as it is much more revealing about what people in 2025 are craving. Okay, there is an argument to highlight that it is not all people but there is enough to make this the number one use-case.
Who Exactly is Talking to GenAI?
So, what age group and other demographical insights provide a picture of who is using GenAI for Therapy / Companion? Research shows it looks like: “65% of generative AI users are Millennials or Gen Z, and 72% are employed.” These demographic cohorts span the ages of 14 to 43. Also, notice that 72% of them are employed.
Connecting the Dots: Employees, AI, and You
It’s safe to assume, then, that many within your company seek emotional fulfillment through GenAI interactions. Here’s a powerful insight: what they're truly craving is connection.
Creating Connection at Work
How can your company leverage this insight to simultaneously boost employee well-being and your bottom line? By cultivating connection. Companies thriving today prioritize shared experiences, open dialogue, and a genuine sense of belonging.
The Tangible Benefits of Belonging
Research consistently shows that organizations promoting belonging enjoy impressive outcomes:
- 56% increase in job performance
- 50% reduction in turnover
- 75% decrease in employee sick days
Which company wouldn't welcome such results?
Humans Still Lead—For Now
Although GenAI is revolutionizing our personal and professional lives, humans retain an advantage when it comes to meaningful connections. By proactively nurturing these relationships, your company can reap substantial rewards — and so can your employees.
Sources:
https://learn.filtered.com/thoughts/top-100-gen-ai-use-cases-updated-2025
https://hbr.org/2025/04/how-people-are-really-using-gen-ai-in-2025?ab=HP-latest-text-5
https://www.salesforce.com/news/stories/generative-ai-statistics
https://hbr.org/2019/12/the-value-of-belonging-at-work
https://www.patdoyle.ca/Blog/ArticleID/1712/The-Power-of-Personalized-Branded-Products-in-Enhancing-Employee-Engagement-and-Belonging