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

New data from corporate card and expense management company Ramp indicates that OpenAI is gaining ground on Anthropic among US business customers, signaling that enterprise AI spending remains volatile as companies switch between major AI providers. The data, covering more than 70,000 American businesses using Ramp’s bill pay and corporate card products, shows Anthropic’s market share peaked at nearly 44% in July, while OpenAI held nearly 40%, but OpenAI is currently growing faster in the third quarter, according to Ramp economist Ara Kharazian.

Ramp data reveals shifting market share

Ramp’s data, which tracks spending by its business customers, shows that Anthropic overtook OpenAI in market share among these users back in May, when Anthropic hit 41% to OpenAI’s 39%. By July, Anthropic had extended its lead to nearly 44% versus OpenAI’s nearly 40%. However, a closer look at the most recent data indicates OpenAI is now growing faster in Q3 to date, though there is still a month left in the quarter, and the trend could shift again.

Ramp’s customers skew toward the tech industry, reflecting its popularity as a Silicon Valley corporate credit card, but the data still provides a useful indication of broader enterprise AI adoption trends. Ramp declined to provide actual dollar amounts spent, sharing only percentages.

Why the market is still in flux

The volatility in market share suggests that businesses are willing to switch between AI providers as new models are released, challenging the notion of “sticky” enterprise AI spending. Kharazian noted on X that OpenAI’s new model, GPT-5.6 Sol, is “really good, increasingly the choice for developers,” while Anthropic’s Fable 5 “disappointed both in adoption and real-world application given price + data retention requirements imposed by regulators.”

Anthropic’s Fable model, a higher-end tier, is expensive and built for more targeted use cases, but it also caused some backlash when the company warned users it must retain their data for 30 days. This may have influenced adoption among businesses concerned about data privacy and regulatory compliance.

Overall market expansion

Despite the competition, Ramp’s data also shows that the overall market for paid AI services among its customers is expanding. The percentage of companies paying for AI among Ramp customers has climbed steadily, topping 50% in March and reaching nearly 56% by July. This suggests that both OpenAI and Anthropic should be growing their business revenue even as they compete for market share.

Conclusion

The Ramp data provides a valuable snapshot of the competitive dynamics in enterprise AI, highlighting that no provider has a permanent lead. As new models and regulatory pressures emerge, businesses are willing to switch, and the market continues to grow. For investors and industry observers, this volatility underscores the importance of innovation and adaptability in the AI sector.

FAQs

Q1: What does the Ramp data show about OpenAI and Anthropic?
The data shows Anthropic has a slight lead in market share among Ramp’s business customers, but OpenAI is currently growing faster in Q3, indicating a dynamic competitive landscape.

Q2: Why is the data from Ramp significant?
Ramp’s data covers over 70,000 US businesses and provides a real-world indicator of enterprise AI adoption and spending, though it skews toward tech companies and excludes large enterprises using other spend-management tools.

Q3: What factors are influencing business switching between AI providers?
New model releases, pricing, data retention policies, and regulatory requirements are key factors driving businesses to switch between OpenAI and Anthropic, as seen with the mixed reception to Anthropic’s Fable model.