Why OpenAI and Anthropic Are Becoming Consultants

2026-05-05 · Source: The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis · Field: Business & Management — Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Consulting & Professional Services, Operations & Process Management · Depth: Intermediate, extended

Summary

OpenAI and Anthropic are expanding into enterprise AI consulting, with OpenAI reportedly raising over $4 billion for a "Deployment Company" valued at $10 billion, and Anthropic launching a $1.5 billion joint venture with partners like Blackstone and Goldman Sachs. These initiatives aim to address the "last mile" challenge of AI adoption, recognizing that organizational readiness, not just AI capabilities, is crucial for successful deployment. The Microsoft Work Trend Index highlights this "Transformation Paradox," showing that only 19% of organizations are at the "frontier" of high individual AI capability and high organizational readiness. Many employees with high AI skills are constrained by low organizational support, a condition termed "blocked agency." The White House is also considering new AI policy, including a potential government vetting process for powerful AI models, with recent agreements for early access to models from Google, Microsoft, and XAI for national security evaluations.

Key takeaway

For CTOs overseeing AI strategy, recognize that simply acquiring AI tools is insufficient. Your focus must shift to re-architecting organizational processes and fostering a culture that supports AI integration and experimentation. Prioritize building internal capabilities and cross-functional partnerships to overcome "blocked agency" and ensure AI initiatives move from pilots to production, driving real business outcomes.

Key insights

Organizational transformation is critical for successful AI deployment, as individual AI capabilities often outpace enterprise readiness.

Principles

• AI transformation requires organizational transformation.
• Effective AI adoption integrates engineers with all staff.
• Organizational factors double AI's impact over individual mindset.

Method

The proposed consulting model involves embedding applied AI engineers from vendors alongside client teams to identify high-impact areas, build custom solutions, and integrate AI into existing workflows.

In practice

• Avoid "buy and hope" AI adoption strategies.
• Leaders must redesign work, not just delegate AI to a team.
• Reward experimentation and ambitious work redesign with AI.

Topics

• OpenAI Enterprise Consulting
• Anthropic Enterprise AI
• Organizational Readiness
• AI Adoption Challenges
• Forward Deployed Engineering

Best for: CTO, Director of AI/ML, VP of Engineering/Data, Executive

Related on AIssential

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• Q&A with Ethan Mollick — Successful AI integration requires practical organizational redesign, clear leadership, and a dedicated innovation lab, addressing human and systemic challenges.
• How Apple's AI Strategy Changes with a New CEO — AI companies are rapidly evolving features, strategies, and partnerships amidst intense competition and infrastructure demands.
• anthropic vs. openai — Anthropic has surpassed OpenAI in new enterprise AI adoption, driven by targeted technical focus and broader non-technical applications.
• The Deployment Company, Back to the 70s, Apple and Intel — Major AI developers are deploying human engineering teams to facilitate enterprise AI adoption, mirroring 1970s mainframe implementations.

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis.