Distribution of Users Across the 14-Step Journey
| Step | Name | What It Means | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Apprehension | Aware of AI but hesitant or uncertain about using it | Starting Point |
| 1 | Opening ChatGPT | Create an account and ask your first question | Everyone |
| 2 | Basic Tasks | Use AI for simple tasks: emails, summaries, quick answers | Top 75% |
| 3 | Deep Research | Use AI as a research partner for complex questions | Top 50% |
| 4 | Thought Partner | Brainstorm, strategize, and think through problems with AI | Top 35% |
| 5 | Prompt Systems | Create reusable prompts and templates for consistent results | Top 25% |
| 6 | Multi-Model Mastery | Use different AI models for different tasks (Claude, Gemini, etc.) | Top 20% |
| 7 | Custom GPTs | Build custom GPTs or Projects for specific use cases | Top 15% |
| 8 | Integrations | Connect AI to your existing tools (Zapier, email, docs) | Top 10% |
| 9 | AI Tools Ecosystem | Use specialized AI tools beyond chat (image, audio, video) | Top 8% |
| 10 | Multi-Modal AI | Use voice, vision, and screen sharing with AI | Top 5% |
| 11 | Structured Systems | Build complete AI-powered workflows and systems | Top 3% |
| 12 | Autonomous Agents | Deploy AI agents that work independently on your behalf | Top 2% |
| 13 | Building AI Apps | Create your own AI-powered tools and applications | Top 1% |
| 14 | AI as Your OS | AI becomes your primary interface for all digital work | Top 0.1% |