UK small businesses spend big on Anthropic, with OpenAI close behind

Research by Capital on Tap shows the share of UK SMEs paying for AI tools rose from 1.1% in 2023 to 12.8% in 2026. Anthropic accounts for 54.1% of AI spending versus OpenAI's 27.3%, with average quarterly spend of £75.60 per SME.

• 12.8% of UK SMEs pay for AI tools, up from 1.1% in 2023
• Anthropic takes 54.1% of AI spending, OpenAI 27.3%
• Average SME spend is £75.60 per quarter
• Publishing leads AI adoption at 26%