At San Francisco’s HumanX AI conference at the Moscone Center this week, Claude from Anthropic emerged as the most frequently mentioned chatbot in discussions about business and coding automation. According to TechCrunch reporting from the event, attendees and vendors repeatedly brought up Claude, while ChatGPT received less attention in those same conversations.
Agentic AI as the conference focus
The conference centered on agentic AI: systems that automate business and coding tasks. These agents are being deployed across industries largely through enterprise and consumer-focused chatbots. The focus on agentic systems reflects a shift in how companies are packaging and deploying AI capabilities for day-to-day work, particularly in software development.
Rather than treating AI as a single-response assistant, agentic systems aim to take actions—such as assisting with coding workflows or handling business steps—through interfaces users already adopt. The conference’s emphasis suggests that chatbot interfaces are becoming a control mechanism for broader automation.
Claude’s prominence at the event
When asked which chatbot was most popular, Claude consistently appeared in conversations. Anthropic received mentions in many panels throughout the week and was a recurring topic among vendors on the convention floor.
One vendor stated that his team used Claude frequently, while expressing the view that ChatGPT and OpenAI had declined. TechCrunch notes this perception extends beyond a single data point, observing that it remains unclear what will change the perception that OpenAI has lost footing, despite a recent $122 billion funding round and its upcoming IPO.
The report indicates this “Claude is more present” impression may reflect deployment patterns and conversation frequency rather than objective performance measures. TechCrunch contrasts event-floor discussions with financial momentum, citing analysis that places OpenAI and Anthropic as comparable in prominence and revenue.
OpenAI’s strategic shifts
TechCrunch connects the perception of lost footing to recent product decisions. Last month, OpenAI discontinued multiple projects, including its AI video generator Sora and a plan to launch a modified version of ChatGPT, instead focusing on business and coding services. This reallocation of resources aligns with the agentic AI emphasis seen at HumanX.
The report also notes that other developments have contributed to negative perception, including a New Yorker article questioning CEO Sam Altman’s trustworthiness, OpenAI’s work with the Trump administration, and its decision to inject advertising into ChatGPT. These factors may influence how buyers perceive OpenAI’s strategic direction and consistency.
During a HumanX discussion, Sierra co-founder and CEO Bret Taylor—also chairman of the board of OpenAI—defended Altman. Taylor stated, “I think Sam is one of the most visible leaders and executives in the world,” and added, “I think Sam’s a remarkable leader of AI, and I really trust his character as someone who’s worked with him.”
Rapid advancement in agentic coding
Despite discussions about chatbot popularity, TechCrunch emphasizes that the technological landscape is advancing quickly. OpenAI’s CTO of B2B applications, Srinivas Narayanan, noted during a HumanX discussion with Bloomberg’s Rachel Metz: “We are in this incredible moment in technology, where every month, and sometimes every day, we are all looking forward to something new.” He cited agentic coding as an example, stating: “We knew AI was going to impact software engineering, people have been using assistive coding over the last year, but even in just the last few months, the entire field has changed.”
The report notes that other AI applications, including creative uses, have not gained similar traction. It also observes that the volume of work companies have offloaded to automated helpers is substantial and has occurred in a relatively short period.
On the commercial side, OpenAI announced a new $100 subscription tier for ChatGPT with expanded access to its coding tool. The report suggests this move is designed to increase adoption and compete with Claude Code, though this represents the perceived intent rather than confirmed internal strategy.
The report also indicates that competition between OpenAI and Anthropic may be closer than event-floor anecdotes suggest. It cites a Wall Street Journal analysis showing both companies among the fastest-growing businesses in tech history, with OpenAI and Anthropic appearing comparable in prominence and revenue, and some data suggesting Anthropic is gaining ground among business users.
Market signals from HumanX
The conference’s emphasis on agentic AI and repeated mentions of Claude suggest the market is evaluating how systems integrate into workflows—particularly in software engineering—through enterprise and consumer chatbot interfaces.
TechCrunch’s reporting highlights a feedback loop between product packaging and adoption. OpenAI’s discontinuation of certain projects and focus on business and coding services, along with its expanded Codex subscription tier, reflect efforts to align product changes with agentic coding priorities. Anthropic’s panel mentions and vendor discussions suggest it has become a practical choice for teams exploring automation patterns.
Event-floor prominence, reported vendor usage, and the market’s shift toward agentic coding indicate where developers and businesses are directing attention as agentic AI moves from demonstrations to deployment.
Source: TechCrunch