The emergence of the generative artificial intelligence ChatGPT has sparked global attention and discussion. Relevant research has experienced explosive growth in recent months, making it necessary to sort out the research situation of ChatGPT at home and abroad to provide direction for future research. Through literature review and thematic analysis, the main topics and research directions in ChatGPT both domestically and internationally were extracted based on the study of related literature. These topics include the concept and technical features of ChatGPT, its main fields of application, the human-machine relationship, and associated risks and countermeasures. Systematic analysis of these topics has enabled a deeper understanding of the main themes and research trends in ChatGPT research. There has been a wealth of research on ChatGPT in a short period of time, with a focus on its technical features and applications in various fields and challenges. However, there are also many issues, such as inadequate concept clarification, a single research method, insufficient theoretical depth, and narrow research perspectives. In the future, related research should expand research methods and theoretical perspectives, and further focus on issues such as the value challenges of ChatGPT to humans, the reshaping of human-machine relationships, and the transformation of knowledge production.