Print desk·2026-08-25·.md
OpenAI vs Anthropic: different books, same decade
API usage first. ChatGPT subscriptions second. Enterprise seats on top of both. Mostly API. Claude seats sit on top. Less consumer habit than OpenAI.
OpenAI leads on API usage (45%). Anthropic leads on API (70%). The seat follows the slice that pays.
The mix
Hover a slice
- API usage45%70%
- ChatGPT35%—
- Enterprise / reserved15%—
- Other5%5%
- Claude seats—25%
- OpenAIAnthropic
API usage first. ChatGPT subscriptions second. Enterprise seats on top of both.
Pays: Developers on the API. Consumers on ChatGPT. Enterprises on reserved capacity.
Builds: Research and applied engineering. The product is the model and the surface on it.
Mostly API. Claude seats sit on top. Less consumer habit than OpenAI.
Pays: Labs and enterprises calling Claude. Teams on Claude.ai.
Builds: Research, alignment, and the API surface. Fewer consumer PM seats than a chat app.
The seat
Do not treat OpenAI and Anthropic as one market. Research and applied engineering. The product is the model and the surface on it. That is not Research, alignment, and the API surface. Fewer consumer PM seats than a chat app. Name the book before the interview.