The AI world has been very busy recently. OpenAI shared new data that shows its tools are growing fast in big companies. This update came only a few days after an internal memo revealed that OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, called a code red inside the company. The memo asked staff to focus on improving ChatGPT because Google’s new Gemini 3 model is becoming a strong threat.
This mix of good news and pressure makes the story very interesting. It shows how fast the AI race is moving and how quickly things can change.
In this post, we will break everything down in simple words. You will understand why OpenAI is celebrating a big win and why it is also under serious pressure at the same time.
OpenAI Shows Big Growth in Enterprise Use
OpenAI reported that businesses are using ChatGPT much more than before. According to new data, message volume from companies has grown eight times since November 2024. Many workers even say they save up to one hour every day because ChatGPT helps them finish tasks faster.
The report also shows that 36 percent of all businesses in the United States now use ChatGPT Enterprise. This is more than twice the number of businesses using Anthropic’s tools, which is only 14.3 percent. This is a very big win for OpenAI because enterprise users pay more and are more stable customers.
However, even with this growth, most of OpenAI’s money still comes from regular users who pay for personal subscriptions. This is where Google’s Gemini becomes a problem because Google is very strong in the consumer space.
Google’s Gemini Is Putting Pressure On OpenAI
Only one week before the report was released, Sam Altman sent a memo to workers inside OpenAI. In the memo, he said the company must focus on improving ChatGPT immediately. This is because Google’s new Gemini 3 model is getting very good reviews.
Some people who have used ChatGPT for years say that Gemini 3 feels better in some areas, especially writing and creativity. Even Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, said that after using Gemini 3 for two hours, he did not want to go back to ChatGPT.
When big tech leaders talk like this, it matters. It means Google is becoming a real threat again.
Because of this, Altman told staff to pause other upcoming projects like ads inside ChatGPT, AI shopping tools and the new Pulse assistant. He wants the team to focus fully on making ChatGPT faster, smarter, more reliable and more personal.
Companies Are Using More Reasoning Tokens
Another interesting part of the report is that companies are using far more reasoning tokens. These are tokens used when the AI has to think deeply or solve complex problems.
OpenAI says that companies are using 320 times more reasoning tokens than they used a year ago. This shows that businesses are not only using ChatGPT for simple tasks but also for advanced tasks like analysis, planning and coding.
However, using more reasoning tokens also means more cost because deep thinking uses more energy and power. Some experts worry that many companies might be experimenting heavily without getting long term value yet.
Custom GPTs Are Growing Fast
OpenAI also shared that custom GPTs are becoming very popular inside companies. A custom GPT is like a personal assistant that is trained to understand a company’s internal rules, documents or tasks.
This year alone, the use of custom GPTs inside businesses grew 19 times. These custom tools now make up 20 percent of all enterprise messages. Some companies like BBVA have more than 4,000 custom GPTs running at the same time.
This shows that businesses are not only using AI but are also shaping and adjusting it to fit their needs.
Workers Are Saving Time And Learning New Skills
OpenAI says workers using ChatGPT Enterprise save 40 to 60 minutes each day. Many of them also say the tool helps them learn new skills they could not do before. For example, workers outside the engineering team are now writing code with help from the AI.
There has been a 36 percent increase in coding messages from workers who are not developers.
This makes AI feel like a tool that helps people grow, not something that replaces them right away. However, there is also a small risk. If workers write code without full knowledge, it can lead to bugs or security problems. OpenAI says its new tool named Aardvark may help find these issues.
The Gap Between Power Users And Others Is Growing
The report shows that some workers use AI a lot while others barely use it. These power users save far more time and do more tasks with AI.
People who use ChatGPT every day are learning faster and improving faster. People who do not use it much are falling behind. This gap might become a problem for companies in the future.
The Bottom Line
When you combine all this information, one thing becomes clear. OpenAI is winning in the enterprise market, but it is also under strong pressure because Google is catching up fast.
The company has also committed 1.4 trillion dollars to build more infrastructure in the coming years. This means it needs enterprise customers to keep growing or else the spending will be too much.
Sam Altman knows this, which is why he called the code red. He wants to make sure ChatGPT stays ahead, remains the best AI assistant and keeps both consumers and businesses happy.
For now, OpenAI has reasons to celebrate. But the AI race is far from over.
Also Read:OpenAI Says It Has Turned Off App Suggestions That Look Like Ads
