As competition heats up, both companies adjust strategies to maintain market share and drive growth
Category: Business
Anthropic is swiftly closing the gap with OpenAI in the corporate artificial intelligence (AI) market, according to recent data from Ramp, a financial management platform. As of March 2026, approximately 30.6% of corporate clients are now utilizing Anthropic's AI tools, up by over 6 percentage points from the previous month. In comparison, OpenAI remains ahead with a 35.2% market share, but its growth has stagnated in recent months.
The Ramp AI Index, which analyzes spending data from 50,000 clients with annual credit and billing transactions totaling $100 billion, suggests that if current trends continue, Anthropic could surpass OpenAI within the next two months. "With the current pace, it is highly likely that Anthropic will overtake OpenAI in two months," a Ramp spokesperson stated.
OpenAI has dominated the market since the launch of its chatbot service in 2022, amassing around 900 million weekly active users. Yet, signs of slowing growth have emerged. According to market research firm Sensor Tower, the download growth rate for ChatGPT was only 5% as of March, with weekly user numbers in the U.S. experiencing their first decline since 2024.
In stark opposition, Anthropic is witnessing explosive growth. Downloads of its AI model, Claude, have tripled, reaching 21 million, and its annual recurring revenue (ARR) has surged from $9 billion at the end of 2025 to approximately $30 billion recently. This remarkable increase can be attributed to Anthropic's enterprise-focused strategy, particularly its Claude Code and various automation plugins that have resonated well with developers and professionals.
In sectors such as information technology, finance, and professional services, Anthropic has recorded higher adoption rates than OpenAI. The company is also making inroads into traditional industries like construction and services. Market analysts are labeling this trend as a "momentum shift." Charlie Dai, Vice President at Ramp, noted, "Companies prioritize model performance, usability, and compatibility with their corporate environments over political issues. A clear trend change is evident toward Anthropic."
Even in the face of challenges, including a conflict with the U.S. Department of Defense that raised concerns about supply chain risks, Anthropic has managed to maintain its growth. This resilience indicates that corporate clients are prioritizing technological competitiveness over regulatory risks.
Meanwhile, OpenAI is restructuring and modifying its strategies to strengthen its competitive edge in the corporate market. The company is streamlining its operations around core business areas and discontinuing some projects, aiming for improved profitability and preparing for a potential initial public offering (IPO).
Experts believe that Anthropic's strategy of initially building a user base among developers and power users before gradually extending into the mass market is proving effective. Ara Karajian, an economist at Ramp, commented, "Anthropic is successfully transitioning from an initial user base to a broad corporate environment."
Nevertheless, some debate surrounds the interpretation of data. OpenAI has challenged the reliability of Ramp's figures, arguing that they do not adequately capture large-scale contracts from major corporations. Eric Gleiman, co-founder of Ramp, countered that their platform processes transactions equivalent to about 1% of the U.S. GDP, emphasizing the 'consistency' of their data. This implies that, even if specific numbers may differ, the growth trends are accurately represented.
In a related development, Anthropic is also preparing for an IPO, which has heightened interest from investors. SK Telecom, an early investor that contributed approximately $100 million in 2023, is particularly optimistic about the potential for returns. With the launch of its large language models (LLMs), Claude and the next-generation model, Claude Mythos, Anthropic's revenue is expected to rise sharply, leading to projections of a substantial increase in corporate value post-IPO.
Currently holding about 0.3% equity in Anthropic, SK Telecom values its stake at approximately 1.3 trillion won. Analysts speculate that this value could soar to the upper 3 trillion won range following the IPO. The investment is viewed not merely as a financial opportunity but as a strategic collaboration that could bolster SK Telecom's AI services, including its A. and AIX business lines, by leveraging Anthropic's LLM.
SK Telecom's president, Jeong Jae-hun, has previously emphasized the importance of creating synergies with AI business operations rather than merely achieving financial gains from the investment. The potential for strategic cooperation within the rapidly growing generative AI market has positioned SK Telecom advantageously within the global AI ecosystem.
As the generative AI sector continues to expand, the connections established with key model companies like Anthropic are viewed as long-term value-enhancing factors. The market is closely watching these developments, particularly as major corporations such as Meta, Microsoft, and Visa encourage their employees to utilize AI in daily operations.
In the aftermath of these market dynamics, Anthropic's reputation has even seen a boost following its conflict with the Department of Defense, which unexpectedly led to increased support from some users. This shift reflects a growing recognition of Anthropic's capabilities within the AI community.
As both companies navigate this competitive environment, their strategies will likely evolve, shaping the future of AI in the corporate sector. The rapid changes in corporate AI spending and the emergence of new players indicate a vibrant and dynamic market.
In essence, Anthropic's ascent in the corporate AI market is a story of strategic focus, technological advancement, and the shifting preferences of enterprises, which prioritize performance and usability in their AI tools. With the potential for an IPO on the horizon and a growing user base, the company is well-positioned for continued growth in the coming years.