Britons now spend over £1 billion a year on AI subscriptions

People in the UK now spend more than £1 billion a year, about $1.4 billion, on paid AI subscriptions. New research released on Thursday also shows Anthropic, the maker of Claude, closing the gap on OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.

What the research shows

The headline number is the total. Across the UK, consumers pay more than £1 billion a year to use AI chatbots and similar tools. That is real money from ordinary households, not just big companies.

The second point is about rivalry. OpenAI still leads, but Anthropic is eating into that lead. ChatGPT and Claude are both AI assistants that answer questions, write text and help with everyday tasks.

Who it affects

Anyone who pays for an AI tool, or is thinking about it, is part of this trend. So are small business owners who sign up on a personal card and let the monthly charge run in the background.

What is not known yet

The full report was not available to us. The material does not say who ran the research, how big each company's share is, or how fast Claude is growing. It also does not say which plans or prices people choose. Those details would show how big the shift really is.

What to do

• Check your bank or card statement for AI subscriptions you forgot about.
• Ask whether you still use the tool enough to justify the monthly cost.
• Try a rival if another assistant might fit your work better.