OpenAI and Anthropic are trying to out-freebie each other

In a surprising midweek showdown, OpenAI and Anthropic have both unveiled enticing offers aimed at attracting developers to their coding tools. Just an hour apart on Wednesday, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic's official account took to X to announce expanded access to their respective AI coding products. Altman highlighted OpenAI's Codex, claiming it to be the premier AI coding solution available. To entice new users, he announced that companies would receive two months of complimentary access to Codex if they registered within the next month. This bold move is likely aimed at capturing the interest of potential clients. Shortly after Altman's announcement, Anthropic responded with a significant increase in Claude Code's weekly usage limits, boosting them by 50% until July 13. The company expressed enthusiasm for the creative possibilities this expansion could unlock for users across various subscription tiers. This announcement comes on the heels of Anthropic's recent release of Opus 4.7, which was designed to enhance Claude's coding and reasoning skills. However, the update was not without its critics, as some users reported issues with its performance, including a tendency to make errors and a more aggressive tone. One of the primary concerns raised by users was the increased rate at which the Opus 4.7 model consumes tokens, leading to frustration among developers. With both companies boasting staggering valuations—Anthropic at $800 billion and OpenAI at $840 billion—the pressure is on to secure lucrative corporate clients and maintain their competitive edge in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.