Data Insights

Epoch AI’s data insights break down complex AI trends into focused, digestible snapshots. Explore topics like training compute, hardware advancements, and AI training costs in a clear and accessible format.

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Open-weight models trail closed models in cyber capabilities by 6–7 months
Data Insight
Oct. 16, 2026
Open-weight models trail closed models in cyber capabilities by 6–7 months

Z.ai’s GLM-5.3 is the top open-weight model on Epoch’s Cyber ECI, scoring where the closed-weight frontier stood 6–7 months earlier.

By Jaeho Lee and Alexander Barry

US adults are no more likely to face cyber incidents than when Claude Fable 5 launched
Data Insight
Oct. 7, 2026
US adults are no more likely to face cyber incidents than when Claude Fable 5 launched

June and September polls from Epoch AI/Ipsos show no detectable increase in the share of US adults experiencing cyber incidents

By Caroline Falkman Olsson and Yafah Edelman

Coding-agent spending by OpenAI researchers is doubling roughly every month
Data Insight
Oct. 5, 2026
Coding-agent spending by OpenAI researchers is doubling roughly every month

OpenAI researchers’ coding-agent usage, valued at API prices, has recently been doubling roughly every month, according to breakpoint fits.

By Yafah Edelman and Luke Emberson

In August, 25% of math preprints acknowledged AI use, up from 4% in April
Data Insight
Sep. 18, 2026
In August, 25% of math preprints acknowledged AI use, up from 4% in April

Acknowledgments of AI use in arXiv math preprints rose from 4% in April 2026 to 25% in August, with 6% crediting AI with a substantial research contribution.

By Tara Abrishami

Trade data is consistent with more than $3 billion of chips smuggled into China via Malaysia
Data Insight
Sep. 17, 2026
Trade data is consistent with more than $3 billion of chips smuggled into China via Malaysia

Epoch AI's analysis of trade data finds a pattern consistent with $3B worth of chips smuggled to China via Malaysia. China recorded $3.8B of server imports from Malaysia in 2024–25; Malaysia recorded only $0.6B of exports.

By Isabel Juniewicz

GPT-6 Astra leads on math benchmarks, but not on software engineering
Data Insight
Sep. 16, 2026
GPT-6 Astra leads on math benchmarks, but not on software engineering

OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra tops the Epoch Capabilities Index (ECI) with a score of 166, ahead of Claude Fable 5.1 at 164 and GPT-5.6 Sol at 162. Its Math-ECI of 170 sets a new record, but on software engineering benchmarks its SWE-ECI of 164 still lags behind Fable 5.1's 167.

By Alexander Barry and Jaeho Lee

Near-daily AI use among US adults has more than doubled in six months
Data Insight
Sep. 14, 2026
Near-daily AI use among US adults has more than doubled in six months

The share of US adults using AI at least 6 days a week rose from 8% in March 2026 to 19% in August 2026, according to Epoch AI/Ipsos polling.

By Amreeta Das, Caroline Falkman Olsson, and Yafah Edelman

The record for power capacity in a single data center has doubled every 10 months
Data Insight
Sep. 4, 2026
The record for power capacity in a single data center has doubled every 10 months

Since mid-2024, the record for the largest AI data center by IT power capacity has doubled every ten months. Epoch AI's analysis of frontier data center power trends through 2028.

By Axel Campos and Ben Cottier

The ECI frontier has advanced by 14 points per year since the introduction of reasoning models
Data Insight
Sep. 1, 2026
The ECI frontier has advanced by 14 points per year since the introduction of reasoning models

By Alexander Barry

Most AI use at work happens on free plans, except in science and tech
Data Insight
Aug. 14, 2026
Most AI use at work happens on free plans, except in science and tech

Epoch AI/Ipsos survey: 67% of AI-using workers in computer, engineering, and science jobs use employer-provided AI.

By Amreeta Das and Caroline Falkman Olsson