The world of artificial intelligence is undergoing a tectonic shift. For a long time, OpenAI was perceived as an unshakeable monolith, but 2026 became the year that monolith began to crack. Fresh data from The Information has overturned the perception of leadership: Anthropic, founded by ex-OpenAI employees, has not just caught up with its former employer but has confidently surpassed it in revenue. The gap is 35% in favor of Dario Amodei's team.
A Gap of Billions of Dollars
Earlier in the year, OpenAI was considered the undisputed leader, outpacing competitors by nearly a billion dollars. However, within a few months, the situation changed radically. The corporate sector, which has always been the main source of income for AI companies, began to switch en masse to Claude. This is not just a change in preference; it is a paradigm shift: businesses are voting with their wallets for stability and security, not hype.
Why Business Chose Claude
Anthropic's success is built on pragmatism. While OpenAI tried to sell the world a dream of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), Anthropic focused on solving specific tasks. Improving the context window, answer accuracy, and reliability became key factors for large corporations. Companies are tired of experiments and are ready to pay for tools that work "right here, right now."
At the same time, OpenAI has faced stagnation. The influx of new users has slowed, and the focus on large-scale infrastructure projects and internal intrigue has distracted from the product. The irony of fate is that those who left OpenAI due to disagreement with its course are now earning more than those who stayed.
The Battle for IPO and Valuation
Both companies are preparing for an IPO, and current performance metrics will be the deciding factor in their valuation. Investors do not forgive a slowdown in growth, even when it comes to the most famous startup of the decade. If Anthropic maintains its pace, OpenAI's market valuation could suffer significantly.
This story resembles a classic showdown between a flexible startup and an unwieldy giant. While one tries to be everything to everyone, the other hits the target precisely. Ahead lies the final battle for valuation, and for now, the odds on Claude look significantly more attractive.