Financial Daily News — 2026-08-20

OpenAI narrows Anthropic’s lead among Ramp-tracked business users

Ramp data covering more than 70,000 U.S. businesses showed Anthropic with nearly 44% of paying AI-company users in July versus nearly 40% for OpenAI, while OpenAI was growing faster in the early part of the third quarter. The data also showed that nearly 56% of Ramp customers were paying for AI tools by July. **Why it matters:** The data suggests enterprise AI share remains fluid, increasing the importance of model releases, pricing, and data-retention policies for OpenAI and Anthropic.

OpenAI adds Apple Messages integration that can draft and send texts

OpenAI launched an Apple Messages plug-in for ChatGPT that can sort, analyze, edit, search, delete, draft, and send messages. The feature also works with Codex and ChatGPT Work; OpenAI said the plug-in runs locally and does not create an index of all messages. **Why it matters:** The integration expands ChatGPT’s role from answering questions into executing actions across Apple’s messaging ecosystem, while raising privacy and user-control issues.

Google introduced AI-generated interactive visuals, 3D simulations, customized quizzes, study documents, and a student hub across Search and Gemini. Gemini can also conduct multi-step research in the background and notify users when a report is ready. **Why it matters:** Google is pushing Gemini deeper into education and search workflows, potentially increasing engagement while intensifying competition with OpenAI and specialized education apps.

Amazon makes Alexa+ free on compatible Fire TV devices

Amazon said Alexa+ will be available at no additional cost on compatible U.S. Fire TV devices, including for customers without Prime. The service previously cost non-Prime users $19.99 per month, and Amazon said Alexa+ customers have nearly twice as many Fire TV conversations as users of the original Alexa. **Why it matters:** Free distribution could accelerate Alexa+ usage and give Amazon more opportunities to monetize AI through device engagement, recommendations, and smart-home control.

Relativity Networks raises $22 million for hollow-core data-center fiber

Relativity Networks raised $22 million through SAFE-note financing and secured a $40 million follow-on order from an unnamed hyperscaler. Its hollow-core fiber is designed to transmit data about 50% faster than conventional fiber, reducing estimated latency for a one-kilometer signal from roughly five microseconds to 3.5 microseconds. **Why it matters:** Lower-latency networking could help hyperscalers link separate data-center campuses and ease geographic constraints on AI compute expansion.

TerraPower plans a data-center project using a 345-megawatt molten-salt reactor

TerraPower plans to announce its first data-center project this year, with construction expected to begin in 2027. The company’s Natrium reactor is designed to store excess heat in molten salt, allowing the 345-megawatt plant to respond more flexibly to fluctuating data-center demand. **Why it matters:** Flexible nuclear generation could become a differentiated power option for AI data centers facing grid-connection delays and rapidly changing electricity loads.