Ramp AI Index Reports 50% Increase in AI Usage Amid Decreased Spending

AI usage among US companies tracked by the Ramp AI Index has surged by 50% since its spending peak in July 2026. As of the last week of September 2026, 70,000 companies are included in this analysis, which focuses solely on API spending and tends to favor larger AI customers. OpenAI and Anthropic have seen significant shifts in token spending, with Anthropic accounting for 51% and OpenAI for 44.5% of token expenditures during that same week. Ara Kharazian, a Ramp economist, attributes the decline in overall spending to increased competition between these two providers, noting that this is not the first decline but has lasted unusually long. Currently, only 5% of business spending is directed toward open-source models, indicating a strong preference for proprietary solutions despite the competitive landscape. This data suggests that while companies are leveraging AI more extensively, they are also finding ways to optimize costs, impacting how AI solutions are purchased and utilized.