
OpenAI growth rebounds following GPT-5 launch
New Ramp data shows business AI adoption grew 1.2% in August, led by an increase in businesses paying for subscriptions and OpenAI releasing a new LLM model.
The Ramp AI Index shows business AI adoption rose to 44.5% in August 2025, up from 43.3%. OpenAI, which launched its newest model GPT-5 in August, led AI companies in growth, with a 1.5% increase in businesses subscribed to OpenAI models and tools. Taking a closer look at different sectors, finance and manufacturing were the fastest-growing adopters of new AI spend, with adoption growing 3% and 2%, respectively. Adoption among technology firms remained flat at 72%.
OpenAI’s GPT-5 release drove a sharp rebound for the company’s tools, with adoption growth outpacing main rival Anthropic for the first time since May. Growth in the finance and manufacturing verticals underscores how GPT-5’s improved reasoning and efficiency are expanding AI’s reach into industries that have historically been slower to adopt new technology.
Highlights
- The 1.2% August increase is slightly slower than a 2% increase in July but continues the positive trend in AI adoption following a brief slowdown in May and June.
- The U.S. government measure of business AI adoption, from the U.S. Census Business Trends and Outlook Survey, increased to 9% from 8.4%, turning positive but still below it’s all-time-high of 9.3% in May and June 2025.
- We believe the government estimate, which relies on survey data, is underreporting actual AI adoption by U.S. businesses. Our methodology explains why in detail.
- xAI held flat despite doubling its base of businesses in July. It was also one of our fastest-growing vendors that month.
- Anthropic grew business AI adoption 1% in August, a slight slowdown from its 1.5% growth in July.
- OpenAI remains the leader in business AI adoption, at 35%, up 1.5% from July.
For a deeper look at broader trends in AI adoption, check out our Q2 spending report.
→ Download the Summer 2025 Ramp Business Spending Report
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