OpenAI and Anthropic are the top beneficiaries of rising AI spend

Enterprise software spending is undergoing a structural shift as artificial intelligence moves beyond limited trials into core operational budgets, new research has confirmed.

Over the past year, decision-making has moved away from whether AI tools are worth funding toward which vendors should receive increasing allocations, reflecting a broader change in procurement priorities, where AI is no longer treated as an add-on but as the central line item shaping software budgets.

Tropic’s analysis of more than $18 billion in managed spend found overall software expenditure is rising sharply, with mid-market and enterprise organizations increasing spend by nearly 58% year-over-year.

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