The AI spending flip
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Anthropic is now capturing over 73% of all spending among companies buying AI tools for the first time, according to customer data from Ramp.
Why it matters: The AI race is shifting from who has the best model to who can monetize the fastest — and Anthropic is pulling ahead with the customers that matter most: enterprises.
By the numbers: Just 10 weeks ago, the split with OpenAI was 50/50. It was 60/40 in OpenAI's favor as recently as early December.
Between the lines: Amid the tightening race, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that OpenAI is considering a strategy shift, from its wide-ranging consumer bets (like video generators, browsers and devices) to a tighter focus on enterprise.
- While OpenAI is the most popular chatbot for consumers, it's losing money from them since it's subsidizing the cost of their token usage.
Reality check: OpenAI says it's on pace to generate $25 billion in revenue this year, versus Anthropic's $19 billion.
- But Anthropic appears to be accelerating faster.
Yes, but: Multiple Fortune 500 executives tell Axios they don't want to pick just one model yet, given how fast the technology is evolving.
Zoom out: The battle comes as we've entered an "inflection point" in the AI race, according to Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire.
- Recent releases from both Anthropic, OpenAI and even the new open source agent framework called OpenClaw represent "one of the most profound changes in our technology landscape since, really, almost anything," Allaire said.
The bottom line: AI companies are building the plane while it's flying.
- Turns out they need more business-class seats.
