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   ChatGPT registers huge surge in traffic as schools (and classes) resume   
      
   ChatGPT 4.1 mini helps OpenAI to record highs as daily token generation   
   reaches a staggering 78 billion   
      
   Date:   
   Sun, 21 Sep 2025 20:03:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   OpenRouter stats show ChatGPT traffic doubling from summer lows as students   
   return to classes.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   In news which likely wont come as a huge surprise to anyone, ChatGPT has seen   
   a sharp rise in usage as schools reopen in the West, with token generation   
   climbing to record levels.    
      
   New data from OpenRouter claimed that on September 18, OpenAIs hugely popular   
   chatbot recorded 78.3 billion tokens, the highest since the summer slowdown.    
      
   The surge comes after months of lower activity during school holidays - back   
   in June 2025, when many schools let out, daily usage fell to an average of   
   36.7 billion tokens, in comparison to May 2025, which averaged nearly 80   
   billion tokens per day, coinciding with exams and finals.   
      
   Shifting patterns of AI use    
      
   OpenRouters figures, which track usage across its 2.5 million users, provide    
   a detailed view of how patterns shift throughout the year.    
      
   Although the data only represents one platform, it has become a widely cited   
   resource for researchers and investors who are analyzing adoption of LLMs.    
      
   The numbers make it clear that students are behind a large chunk of ChatGPTs   
   daily activity.    
      
   As Futurism reports, previous studies, including one from Rutgers University,   
   found strong links between academic calendars and usage spikes. Looking at   
   OpenRouters interactive graphic , that connection seems pretty undeniable.    
      
   Breaks such as spring and summer consistently align with drops in    
   interaction, reinforcing earlier observations that ChatGPT traffic drops   
   during holidays and recovers with the school year.    
      
   Among the models measured by OpenRouter, ChatGPT 4.1 Mini stood ahead of the   
   rest, generating 26.9 billion tokens on September 18, ahead of the newly   
   launched GPT-5, which accounted for 18.7 billion tokens on the same day, with   
   other models such as GPT-4o mini and GPT-5 Mini also contributing notable   
   shares.    
      
   Looking at the data, it's clear AI tools are increasingly being used in   
   educational establishments with students relying on OpenAIs chatbot for   
   writing, information gathering, and study support.    
      
   Its not necessarily a bad thing of course, and many teachers and researchers   
   will see value in students learning how to work with these systems   
   responsibly.    
      
   As with any new technology, the younger generations are inevitably going to    
   be among the first to fully embrace AI as part of their daily lives.    
      
   The debate is not whether students should be using AI, but how it can be   
   guided, taught, and balanced in ways that support learning rather than   
   replacing it.   
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/chatgpt-registers-huge-surge-in-traffic-as-schoo   
   ls-and-classes-resume-chatgpt-4-1-mini-helps-openai-to-record-highs-as-daily-t   
   oken-generation-reach-a-staggering-78-billion   
      
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