OpenAI has introduced LifeVal, a new benchmark designed to evaluate how effectively AI models assist users with everyday tasks. The company aims to align general-purpose AI with practical, real-world human needs.
The benchmark development involved analyzing the American Time Use Survey and international data, alongside a survey of 3,995 representative participants. These respondents identified the areas where they most require AI assistance.
LifeVal covers sectors including healthcare, education, household administration, personal finance, and government services. Specific tasks range from selecting kindergartens and managing dietary plans for chronic conditions to organizing community volunteer efforts.
Unlike traditional benchmarks, LifeVal prioritizes actionable outcomes. Models are evaluated on their ability to integrate personal constraints, such as budget and location, rather than simply providing lists or general information.
OpenAI reports that it has used LifeVal internally for the past year to track model performance. Reported success rates include 93.1% for kindergarten selection, 98.0% for volunteer coordination, and 90.4% for dietary planning.
The benchmark remains an internal tool for now. OpenAI has not yet released the full task set, scoring methodology, or independent verification data, meaning the current results cannot be externally reproduced.
