OpenAI has regained momentum over Anthropic with GPT-5.6 Sol.
Enterprise revenue grew more than 50 percent this quarter.
OpenAI's API spending growth now outpaces Anthropic's: 82 percent versus 76 percent quarter-over-quarter.
What happened
OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol, launched July 9, drove a 35 percent revenue increase this quarter, with enterprise revenue growing more than 50 percent. Ramp data shows OpenAI's business API spending grew 82 percent quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2026, outpacing Anthropic's 76 percent growth for the first time since Anthropic had overtaken OpenAI.
Why it matters
Anthropic had recently reached a $65 billion annualized revenue run rate and surpassed OpenAI in quarterly revenue for the first time—pulling in $11.6 billion versus OpenAI's $6.7 billion before GPT-5.6 Sol launched. The shift signals OpenAI is regaining momentum after growth had slowed at both labs, partly driven by open-weight models gaining ground.
What to watch
OpenAI's next model, Astra, is set to launch in the coming weeks. Rumors suggest Anthropic could counter with an improved Fable 5.1.
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The competitive dynamic between OpenAI and Anthropic shifted sharply in Q3 2026. Anthropic had achieved a major milestone just before GPT-5.6 Sol's launch: a $65 billion annualized revenue run rate and, crucially, the first quarter in which its revenue ($11.6 billion) exceeded OpenAI's ($6.7 billion). That lead appeared to reflect both strong execution at Anthropic and headwinds facing OpenAI—growth had slowed at both labs, a slowdown the body attributes partly to open-weight models gaining traction in the market.
GPT-5.6 Sol's July 9 release triggered a sharp reversal. OpenAI's overall revenue jumped 35 percent, while enterprise revenue surged more than 50 percent. More tellingly, Ramp's measure of business API spending growth—a real-time proxy for enterprise momentum—shows OpenAI pulling ahead: 82 percent growth quarter-over-quarter against Anthropic's 76 percent. The body frames this as OpenAI "outpacing" Anthropic again, signaling that the temporary lead Anthropic had built has now shifted back.
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