OpenAI is gaining on Anthropic with business users, new data indicates

With both OpenAI and Anthropic keeping their official financials under wraps as they march toward potential IPOs, market observers are turning to third-party data to gauge the health of the AI arms race. New insights from Ramp, the corporate expense management platform, reveal a shifting landscape: OpenAI is currently clawing back ground against Anthropic among U.S. corporate clients.

The Battle for Market Share

For a period, OpenAI held the undisputed crown as the preferred AI provider for both consumers and businesses. However, that dominance faltered in May, when Anthropic surged to a 41% market share compared to OpenAI’s 39%. Since that crossover, Anthropic has maintained a lead, reaching nearly 44% by July, while OpenAI hovered around 40%.

The data, derived from over 70,000 American businesses utilizing Ramp’s financial tools, offers a unique window into enterprise spending. While the user base skews toward the tech sector, the trends are telling. According to Ramp economist Ara Kharazian, the third quarter has seen a resurgence for OpenAI, which is currently outpacing Anthropic in growth among this cohort.

Key Market Observations

• Volatility is the Norm: The lead in AI adoption is far from settled. Businesses are demonstrating a willingness to pivot quickly between providers as new models are released.
• Expanding Adoption: The overall market is growing. The percentage of Ramp customers paying for AI services climbed from 50% in March to nearly 56% by July.
• The "Stickiness" Problem: The ease with which companies switch providers should serve as a warning to investors, suggesting that enterprise AI loyalty is currently fragile.

"Businesses are willing to flop back and forth as each lab releases new models, volatility that should give both companies' investors pause about how 'sticky' enterprise AI spending really is."

Model Performance and Regulatory Hurdles

The shifting tides may be attributed to the perceived utility of specific models. Kharazian noted on X that OpenAI’s latest offerings are increasingly favored by developers. Conversely, Anthropic’s high-end "Fable" model has faced headwinds. Beyond its premium price point, the model drew significant backlash after the company informed users that it must retain their data for 30 days to comply with regulatory requirements.

While Ramp’s data is not a total reflection of the global market—as it excludes large enterprises using other spend-management platforms—it provides a critical indicator of industry sentiment.

Ultimately, the rivalry between these two giants is fueling a broader expansion of the AI sector. Even as they trade blows for market share, both companies are benefiting from a corporate environment that is increasingly willing to open its wallet for advanced artificial intelligence tools. Whether this growth remains sustainable or continues to be defined by rapid, model-driven churn remains the central question for the industry.