OpenAI outpaced Anthropic in U.S. consumer spending on paid AI services in 47 of 50 states, based on an analysis of credit and debit card payments from June to August by YipitData. Anthropic led in California, Massachusetts and Montana, and Claude spending was also higher in Washington, D.C. The data exclude free users and may not fully capture corporate spending. a16z said the figures do not represent total revenue.

Some conservative activists and Republican figures are increasingly pushing back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance of minimising AI regulation. The White House argues regulation could slow development and competition with China, while some conservatives cite safety and cybersecurity risks from advanced models. Opposition has also surfaced over the expansion of AI data centres, with state leaders in Texas and Florida calling for tighter oversight. Residents in West Virginia are also objecting to a large data centre project.