ChatGPT Dominates US House AI Spending

ChatGPT was the dominant AI tool utilized by the U.S. House of Representatives, accounting for 88% of all known spending on AI tools between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. According to a CNBC study analyzing House disbursement records, this paid usage amounted to $100,580 out of a total of $113,740 spent on named vendors during that period. The analysis specifically excluded free accounts and AI usage bundled within larger software contracts, focusing solely on direct expenditures for AI services. Democratic offices spent three times more on AI tools than Republican offices. Anthropic's Claude was a distant second in spending, with $13,160 distributed across only 37 transactions. This significant reliance on ChatGPT by Congressional members and their staff could provide OpenAI with a strategic advantage as discussions around AI regulation intensify and the government considers awarding contracts to major AI companies for various departmental needs. The total expenditure identified by CNBC is likely an underestimate of the actual AI spending within Congress. The data did not encompass Senate usage, and it is noteworthy that the Senate prohibits the official use of Claude. Furthermore, some House offices facilitate individual staff members subscribing to AI services and then reimbursing them, a practice that would not appear as itemized disbursements in official records. The extensive use of OpenAI's services may stem from habit, as ChatGPT was the first widely accessible AI chatbot and the initial AI technology many House members explored in 2023 when the legislative body established an AI working group. OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, have also been substantial contributors to numerous Congressional campaigns and have invested heavily in lobbying efforts in recent years. In the second quarter of 2026, OpenAI reported spending $1.2 million on lobbying, representing an increase of nearly 18% from the previous quarter and setting a new record for the company's lobbying expenditures. This figure is also nearly double the amount spent by the company in the same period of the previous year. The company's significant investment in lobbying and political contributions suggests a proactive strategy to influence AI policy and secure government contracts, potentially leveraging its strong user base within Congress.