Anthropic and OpenAI escalated their rivalry on February 5, 2026, by launching major new AI models within minutes of each other, underscoring intense competition in the AI industry. Anthropic introduced Claude Opus 4.6, an upgraded version of its flagship model designed to enhance productivity and coding capabilities with a much larger “context window” that can handle longer documents and more complex workflows. Just minutes later, OpenAI unveiled GPT-5.3-Codex, a model focused on faster performance, more efficient resource use, and advanced software generation from natural language — even coming with a dedicated desktop app for developers.
The simultaneous releases weren’t just about capabilities, but also served as a public demonstration of how the AI race is accelerating. Representatives from both companies appeared back-to-back on the “TBPN” podcast, where OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed future work scenarios where AI agents handle increasingly abstract tasks. Anthropic researcher Sholto Douglas highlighted differences between the models, noting that earlier Anthropic systems were faster and excelled at difficult problems, illustrating how the companies are carving out different strengths even as they compete directly.
This competitive moment comes amid broader strategic moves by both firms. Anthropic also rolled out industry-specific plugins and even Super Bowl advertisements mocking OpenAI’s decision to introduce ads into the free version of ChatGPT, a jab that sparked responses from OpenAI leadership. Altman defended the use of advertising as transparent and separate from AI responses, emphasizing OpenAI’s mission to make AI widely accessible.
The rivalry traces back to 2021, when former OpenAI researchers founded Anthropic with a focus on safer, more controlled AI systems. Their latest launches highlight how both companies are pushing advancements at a rapid pace — targeting enterprise customers, developers, and broader AI applications — and signal that competition in generative AI is now a defining force shaping product strategy and public perception.
