With the start of the new academic year, the excitement hasn’t only been felt in classrooms—it has also been mirrored in the digital world. ChatGPT, the popular AI chatbot, has witnessed a massive spike in usage, reaching unprecedented levels.
According to fresh data from OpenRouter, the chatbot generated nearly 78.3 billion tokens on September 18, marking its highest figure since the summer slowdown. This surge follows months of reduced activity during the school holidays, when daily usage in June 2025 dropped to around 36.7 billion tokens, compared to an average of 80 billion tokens per day in May, a period that coincided with final exams.
The numbers make it clear that students account for a significant portion of daily activity, directly linking academic calendars to interaction rates with ChatGPT. On its peak day in September, GPT-4.1 Mini topped the charts with 26.9 billion tokens, followed by GPT-5, which logged 18.7 billion tokens, alongside notable contributions from GPT-4o Mini and GPT-5 Mini.
These findings highlight how AI tools are increasingly becoming a staple in students’ academic lives, being used for writing, research, summarizing lessons, and exam preparation. While some educators voice concerns about overreliance, many experts argue that guiding students to use such systems responsibly could transform them into valuable educational aids that enhance modern learning.
Looking ahead, it’s evident that younger generations will be among the first to fully integrate AI into their daily routines, making it an inseparable part of both their education and everyday life.
