OpenAI secures business victory just days following internal 'code red' over Google competition

OpenAI Reports Significant Growth in Enterprise AI Adoption

OpenAI has revealed new data indicating a sharp increase in enterprise usage of its AI solutions over the last year. Since November 2024, ChatGPT message traffic has multiplied eightfold, and employees are now saving as much as an hour each day by leveraging these tools. This announcement comes shortly after CEO Sam Altman issued an urgent internal memo highlighting the competitive threat posed by Google.

Positioning as a Leader Amidst Rising Competition

The timing of this report highlights OpenAI’s efforts to solidify its status as a frontrunner in enterprise AI, even as it faces growing competition. According to the Ramp AI Index, nearly 36% of U.S. companies have adopted ChatGPT Enterprise, compared to just 14.3% for Anthropic. Despite this, most of OpenAI’s income still comes from individual subscriptions—a segment now under threat from Google’s Gemini. OpenAI also contends with Anthropic, which focuses on business-to-business sales, and faces increasing competition from providers of open-weight AI models targeting enterprise clients.

Massive Investment in Infrastructure

To support its ambitions, OpenAI has pledged $1.4 trillion toward infrastructure over the coming years, making expansion in the enterprise sector crucial for its future.

“From an economic growth standpoint, consumers are important,” explained Ronnie Chatterji, OpenAI’s chief economist. “But history shows that when businesses adopt and scale transformative technologies, like the steam engine, the greatest economic benefits emerge.”

Deeper Integration and Increased Usage

OpenAI’s latest data shows that not only are more large organizations adopting its technology, but they are also weaving it more deeply into their daily operations. Companies using OpenAI’s API are now processing 320 times more “reasoning tokens” than a year ago, indicating a shift toward more complex problem-solving or extensive experimentation with the technology.

This surge in token usage, which is linked to higher energy consumption, could drive up costs for businesses and may not be sustainable in the long run. TechCrunch has reached out to OpenAI for insights on how enterprises are budgeting for AI and whether this growth rate can be maintained.

Image Credits: OpenAI

Custom AI Solutions on the Rise

Beyond basic usage statistics, OpenAI is observing a shift in how businesses are deploying its technology. The use of custom GPTs—tailored assistants that help automate tasks or capture company knowledge—has increased nineteenfold this year, now making up 20% of enterprise messages. For example, digital bank BBVA reportedly utilizes over 4,000 custom GPTs regularly.

“This demonstrates how organizations are personalizing powerful AI tools to suit their unique needs,” said Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s chief operating officer.

Productivity Gains and Expanding Capabilities

These integrations are translating into tangible time savings. Users report reclaiming 40 to 60 minutes each day with OpenAI’s enterprise offerings, though this may not account for time spent learning the systems or refining AI outputs.

The report also notes that enterprise employees are increasingly using AI to broaden their skill sets. Three out of four respondents say AI enables them to accomplish tasks—including technical work—they previously couldn’t. There has been a 36% rise in coding-related messages from non-technical departments.

Security Considerations and Advanced Tools

While OpenAI emphasizes that its technology is making advanced skills more accessible, it acknowledges that increased “vibe coding” could introduce new security risks. In response, OpenAI has launched its agentic security researcher, Aardvark, currently in private beta, to help identify bugs and vulnerabilities.

The largest gaps in AI adoption are seen in writing, coding, and analytical tasks between leading and average users.

Image Credits: OpenAI

Challenges in Adopting Advanced Features

Interestingly, even the most engaged ChatGPT Enterprise users are not fully utilizing advanced features such as data analysis, reasoning, or search. Lightcap suggested that embracing these capabilities requires a cultural shift and deeper integration with company data and processes. He expects adoption of these advanced tools to increase as organizations adapt their workflows and better understand the possibilities.

Emerging Divide in AI Utilization

Both Lightcap and Chatterji highlighted a growing gap in AI adoption: some “frontier” employees are using more tools more frequently and saving more time, while others lag behind.

“Some companies still view these systems as just another piece of software to distribute to teams,” Lightcap observed. “Others are beginning to treat AI more like an operating system, fundamentally transforming their operations.”

OpenAI’s leadership, mindful of its massive infrastructure commitments, sees this as a chance for slower adopters to catch up. However, for workers training AI to replicate their roles, catching up may feel more like a race against time.