UK Small Businesses Increase AI Spending, With Anthropic Leading the Market

New research from Capital on Tap reveals that AI adoption among UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has surged, rising from 1.1% in 2023 to 12.8% in 2026. The study highlights a significant shift in business operations, with Anthropic’s Claude capturing 54.1% of AI-related expenditure, while OpenAI’s ChatGPT follows with 27.3%. Interestingly, over 28% of SMEs are now paying for multiple AI platforms simultaneously, often leading to redundant subscriptions. The publishing sector currently leads in adoption rates at 26%, followed by radio, television, and consulting. Capital on Tap CEO Damian Brychcy noted that while AI allows small teams to perform complex tasks efficiently, businesses must be cautious about managing subscriptions and data security. As the market matures, SMEs are encouraged to audit their AI tool usage to ensure each platform provides genuine value and to maintain strict oversight of sensitive business data.