Businesses are using more AI and paying less for it, Ramp AI Index shows
US companies are spending less on AI tools while deploying more — a signal that pricing power is shifting and ROI expectations are tightening.
Why it matters
Enterprise AI spend is contracting even as adoption rises, suggesting both commoditization of AI products and a cooling of speculative purchasing. This reshapes vendor pricing strategy and buyer leverage in 2026.
The key facts
9 to knowRamp AI Index shows US companies spending less on AI year-over-year
Increased AI usage concurrent with decreased spending indicates price compression or category consolidation
Source: Ramp economist Ara Kharazian; published October 2, 2026
No specific spend figures, percentages, or comparison periods disclosed in available excerpt
Ramp AI Index: US companies spending less on AI despite increased usage
Source: Ramp economist Ara Kharazian
Published: October 2, 2026
Metric: spending trend vs. usage trend (inverse relationship noted)
No specific dollar amounts, percentages, or regional breakdown disclosed in excerpt
Go to the source
The Decoderthe-decoder.com
Publisher excerpt: US companies are spending less on AI, according to the latest Ramp AI Index from Ramp economist Ara Kharazian.