OpenAI Gains on Anthropic in Business AI Spending
Ramp data shows OpenAI growing faster among businesses this quarter.
1OpenAI's Growth Momentum
According to Ramp's August 2026 data, OpenAI is growing faster than Anthropic among businesses this quarter. OpenAI's new flagship model GPT-5.6 Sol is becoming increasingly popular with developers. In contrast, Anthropic's Fable 5 model has underperformed due to price and data retention requirements. OpenAI currently powers 39.7% of businesses, while Anthropic maintains its lead at 43.5% adoption.
2Model-Level Performance
July 2026 data reveals significant differences at the model level. Anthropic's most expensive model, Fable 5, captured only 6% of token sales and 11.4% of revenue share in its first month. OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol achieved 25% token sales and 23% revenue share at half the price. Ramp's token spend management data shows Fable 5 generated just 75% of GPT-5.6 Sol's model-attributed revenue.
3Industry-Wide Trends
The Ramp AI Index shows paid AI adoption among businesses increased from 50% in March 2026 to 55.7% in July 2026. Spending per customer grew across all tiers. In July, the median business spent $11.95 per employee monthly on AI, while the top 10% spent $650 and the top 1% spent $7,400. AI spending on the platform has quadrupled over the past year.
4Rise of Alternative Models
Growing interest in open-source and Chinese-developed models is notable. Businesses using model-serving platforms increased from 4.5% in January 2026 to 6.1% in July. While first-time AI buyers still predominantly choose American labs, heavy spenders are increasingly adopting open-source options. This trend indicates diversification in the AI market.
5Dataset Limitations
The Ramp AI Index has certain limitations. The sample skews toward the tech industry and excludes large enterprises. It only counts paid transactions, omitting free AI usage or personal account expenses, meaning actual adoption may be higher. Model-level figures come from customers using Ramp's token spend management product, a slightly more tech-heavy sample.
6Regulatory Impact
Regulators' data retention requirements and pricing policies significantly impacted Anthropic's Fable 5 adoption. Kharazian noted these factors slowed the model's uptake. Meanwhile, OpenAI's more affordable and less restrictive model became more attractive to businesses. Regulations are playing an increasingly important role in AI model adoption.
7Spending Distribution
July 2026 data highlights significant disparities in AI spending. While the top 1% of businesses spent a median $7,400 monthly, median spending was just $11.95 per employee. This shows AI investments are largely driven by specific companies. Total AI spending on the platform quadrupled year-over-year, indicating rapid industry growth.
8Industry Outlook
While Q3 results aren't final, OpenAI shows potential to regain its lost leadership. August 2026 data will reveal if this trend continues. Intensifying competition and the rise of open-source alternatives could reshape market dynamics. Growing business investments in AI reinforce the technology's central role in enterprise operations.
Original article: Unite.AI — OpenAI, İş Dünyasında Anthropic'i Yakalıyor