OpenAI's ChatGPT is the most-used AI tool by the U.S. Congress in terms of spending, according to a CNBC report based on House disbursement records. The analysis, published August 3, 2026, at 9:40 AM PDT, shows the chatbot captured the overwhelming majority of federal legislative AI purchases.
OpenAI Takes 90% of House AI Spending
OpenAI received roughly 90% of all spending on AI tools by House offices, committees, and institutional accounts. Congress spent around $100,580 across 798 transactions on ChatGPT during the year ending March 31. Total AI spending by Congress was at least $113,740, meaning OpenAI's share dwarfs all competitors combined.
Anthropic's Claude trailed in second place, with $13,160 spent across 37 transactions. The gap between the two products is stark, and it signals a clear preference among congressional staffers for OpenAI's offering.
Democratic Offices Outspend Republicans Three to One
The report also highlights a notable partisan divide in AI adoption. Democratic offices spent $54,165 on AI purchases, while Republican offices spent $15,782. That means Democratic spending was three times Republican spending, a disparity that raises questions about differing priorities or comfort levels with the technology.
The figures come from House disbursement records, but CNBC's analysis may not capture all AI spending. The insights exclude AI adoption from free accounts or AI bundled into broader software contracts, so actual usage could be higher than the numbers suggest.
How Congress Uses AI Tools
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Congressional staffers use ChatGPT and other tools for a range of practical tasks. These include writing memos, summarizing and analyzing legislation, responding to constituents, preparing hearing materials, sorting through policy research, and drafting social media posts.
The use of AI in government has been a topic of policy debate, and these spending records offer a rare window into how lawmakers are actually deploying the technology. The report, authored by TechCrunch reporter Rebecca Bellan, frames ChatGPT as "Congress's favorite AI tool," though the evidence is based on spending, not usage frequency.
A Growing Trend in Government AI Adoption
The spending figures are "around" and "at least," indicating some approximation in the records. Still, the pattern is clear: OpenAI has become the default choice for congressional AI needs. Anthropic's Claude remains a distant second, and no other AI provider appears in the top tier of spending.
This trend reflects broader adoption of AI across government, even as policymakers debate regulation and oversight. The report's related coverage includes a Wispr Flow meeting notetaker, Horizon3's $2 billion valuation, and a Samsung smart TV ban, alongside the latest in Government and Policy, such as Malaysia shutting down Network School and a judge denying xAI's request on nudify apps.