--- title: 🚨 The AI race is entering a new phase. description: "Not because demand is slowing.\n\nBecause costs are becoming impossible to ignore.\n\nHere are the numbers:\n\n📈 Chinese AI models now process ~18.5 trillion tokens per week on OpenRouter.\n\n🇺🇸 US models? Around 6 trillion.\n\nThat's a 3x gap.\n\nWhy?\n\n• Lower energy costs.\n• More efficient models.\n• Aggressive pricing that's reshaping the competitive landscape.\n\nMeanwhile, something interesting is happening inside large enterprises.\n\nCompanies including Amazon, Walmart, Cisco, Uber, and Meta are reportedly introducing internal limits on AI usage as spending exceeds expectations.\n\nOne striking example:\n\nA software company saw its AI bill jump 7x overnight after moving from a flat-rate subscription to usage-based pricing.\n\nSuddenly, the true cost of AI became visible.\n\nAnd this is only the beginning.\n\n📊 Goldman Sachs estimates AI agents could increase token consumption by 24x by 2030.\n\nThat creates a fundamental challenge:\n\nAI demand may keep exploding... while AI budgets become increasingly constrained.\n\nThe next competitive advantage won't just be building the smartest models.\n\nIt will be building the most cost-efficient ones.\n\nThe AI story is evolving:\n\n➡️ From \"Who has the biggest model?\"\n➡️ To \"Who delivers the lowest cost per useful output?\"\n\nThe winners of the next AI wave may not be those with the most compute...\n\n...but those who make intelligence affordable at scale.\n\nDo you think AI spending is finally reaching a reality check, or is this just a temporary pause before the next investment wave?\n\nSource: FT, Global Markets Investors" image: https://blog.syzgroup.com/hubfs/2-Jun-22-2026-03-03-02-6385-PM.jpg --- [![Syz Private banking](https://blog.syzgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo.png?width=140&name=Logo.png "Syz Private banking")](https://www.syzgroup.com/fr) ## **Thinking** out loud [Subscribe](https://25733253.hs-sites-eu1.com/newsletter-signup?hsLang=en) [![Contact Us](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/25733253/3d762f49-4e71-4f99-97b1-bf6781ef3da2.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/25733253/3d762f49-4e71-4f99-97b1-bf6781ef3da2) - 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You can change your settings below to refuse the use of cookies. For more information, please refer to the [Cookies policy](https://www.syzgroup.com/en/legal-notices). Mandatory cookies Functional cookies Statistics & marketing I confirm I am not a US citizen residing in the US I confirm I am not accessing this site from the US I confirm that I am not a resident of Canada (except for Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia or Alberta). Agree and confirm ### Restricted access We are sorry that for legal reasons we are not able to help US citizens or Canadian residents other than in Ontario, Quebec, or Alberta. Best wishes for the future… ### Restricted access We are sorry that for legal reasons we are not able to help US citizens or Canadian residents other than in Ontario, Quebec, or Alberta. Best wishes for the future… You chose the following profile. If you made a mistake, please change here USA Country Switzerland Canada: Other than Ontario, Quebec, Alberta Canada: Ontario, Quebec or Alberta USA Other country Language Language English French German Italian I confirm Legal information This marketing document has been issued by Bank Syz Ltd. It is not intended for distribution to, publication, provision or use by individuals or legal entities that are citizens of or reside in a state, country or jurisdiction in which applicable laws and regulations prohibit its distribution, publication, provision or use. It is not directed to any person or entity to whom it would be illegal to send such marketing material. This document is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, solicitation or recommendation for the subscription, purchase, sale or safekeeping of any security or financial instrument or for the engagement in any other transaction, as the provision of any investment advice or service, or as a contractual document. Nothing in this document constitutes an investment, legal, tax or accounting advice or a representation that any investment or strategy is suitable or appropriate for an investor's particular and individual circumstances, nor does it constitute a personalized investment advice for any investor. This document reflects the information, opinions and comments of Bank Syz Ltd. as of the date of its publication, which are subject to change without notice. The opinions and comments of the authors in this document reflect their current views and may not coincide with those of other Syz Group entities or third parties, which may have reached different conclusions. The market valuations, terms and calculations contained herein are estimates only. The information provided comes from sources deemed reliable, but Bank Syz Ltd. does not guarantee its completeness, accuracy, reliability and actuality. Past performance gives no indication of nor guarantees current or future results. Bank Syz Ltd. accepts no liability for any loss arising from the use of this document. 22 Jun 2026 - - - #### 🚨 The AI race is entering a new phase. Not because demand is slowing. Because costs are becoming impossible to ignore. Here are the numbers: 📈 Chinese AI models now process ~18.5 trillion tokens per week on OpenRouter. 🇺🇸 US models? Around 6 trillion. That's a 3x gap. Why? • Lower energy costs. • More efficient models. • Aggressive pricing that's reshaping the competitive landscape. Meanwhile, something interesting is happening inside large enterprises. Companies including Amazon, Walmart, Cisco, Uber, and Meta are reportedly introducing internal limits on AI usage as spending exceeds expectations. One striking example: A software company saw its AI bill jump 7x overnight after moving from a flat-rate subscription to usage-based pricing. Suddenly, the true cost of AI became visible. And this is only the beginning. 📊 Goldman Sachs estimates AI agents could increase token consumption by 24x by 2030. That creates a fundamental challenge: AI demand may keep exploding... while AI budgets become increasingly constrained. The next competitive advantage won't just be building the smartest models. It will be building the most cost-efficient ones. The AI story is evolving: ➡️ From "Who has the biggest model?" ➡️ To "Who delivers the lowest cost per useful output?" The winners of the next AI wave may not be those with the most compute... ...but those who make intelligence affordable at scale. Do you think AI spending is finally reaching a reality check, or is this just a temporary pause before the next investment wave? Source: FT, Global Markets Investors [#AI|](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/tag/ai) [#china](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/tag/china) ![🚨 The AI race is entering a new phase.](https://blog.syzgroup.com/hubfs/2-Jun-22-2026-03-03-02-6385-PM.jpg) ![🚨 The AI race is entering a new phase.](https://blog.syzgroup.com/hubfs/2-Jun-22-2026-03-03-02-6385-PM.jpg) #### Disclaimer This marketing document has been issued by Bank Syz Ltd. It is not intended for distribution to, publication, provision or use by individuals or legal entities that are citizens of or reside in a state, country or jurisdiction in which applicable laws and regulations prohibit its distribution, publication, provision or use. It is not directed to any person or entity to whom it would be illegal to send such marketing material. This document is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, solicitation or recommendation for the subscription, purchase, sale or safekeeping of any security or financial instrument or for the engagement in any other transaction, as the provision of any investment advice or service, or as a contractual document. Nothing in this document constitutes an investment, legal, tax or accounting advice or a representation that any investment or strategy is suitable or appropriate for an investor's particular and individual circumstances, nor does it constitute a personalized investment advice for any investor. This document reflects the information, opinions and comments of Bank Syz Ltd. as of the date of its publication, which are subject to change without notice. The opinions and comments of the authors in this document reflect their current views and may not coincide with those of other Syz Group entities or third parties, which may have reached different conclusions. The market valuations, terms and calculations contained herein are estimates only. The information provided comes from sources deemed reliable, but Bank Syz Ltd. does not guarantee its completeness, accuracy, reliability and actuality. Past performance gives no indication of nor guarantees current or future results. Bank Syz Ltd. accepts no liability for any loss arising from the use of this document. Read More ## Related Articles [Food for Thought|](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/tag/food-for-thought) [AI](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/tag/ai) #### [The AI bond rout has now hit the blue-chip tenants as well.](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/the-ai-bond-rout-has-now-hit-the-blue-chip-tenants-as-well?hsLang=en) Meta's Hyperion: 91c. Hut 8's Nvidia-leased sites: 91-93. Microsoft-leased Excalibur: 87. All were sold as the "safe" end of the AI trade. Well, it's now very quickly repricing like the risky end. Source: Nic @puckrin, FT **[Charles-Henry Monchau, CFA, CMT, CAIA](https://blog.syzgroup.com/author/charles-henry-monchau?hsLang=en)** | 16/10/2026 [earnings|](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/tag/earnings) [AI](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/tag/ai) #### [Anthropic just printed $16.8bn in ONE quarter.](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/anthropic-just-printed-16.8bn-in-one-quarter?hsLang=en) +46% QoQ. Profitable (adjusted). Cash-flow positive. $1.70 of revenue per $1 of compute. Few companies in history have printed a quarter like this. So why is the perp future on Binance down 14% from its high? 📉 Because markets price the slope, not the level. → Monthly run-rate growth: ~33% (Jan–Jul) vs 3–7% (Aug–Sep) → $100bn by year-end now needs Q4 to roughly double that pace → Token prices have halved in a month → Usage up, spend flat (Ramp data) → OpenAI is back, and it’s now a two-horse race → “Adjusted” profit, with $518bn of compute commitments ahead The key question: Can volume grow faster than prices fall? What to watch: the S-1 (~25 Oct), token prices, Q4 run rate, credit spreads. Spectacular numbers. Harder questions. **[Charles-Henry Monchau, CFA, CMT, CAIA](https://blog.syzgroup.com/author/charles-henry-monchau?hsLang=en)** | 15/10/2026 [AI|](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/tag/ai) [Alternatives](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/tag/alternatives) #### [One reason for the skepticism: Anthropic token prices have tumbled to all time low](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/one-reason-for-the-skepticism-anthropic-token-prices-have-tumbled-to-all-time-low?hsLang=en) Source: Zerohedge **[Charles-Henry Monchau, CFA, CMT, CAIA](https://blog.syzgroup.com/author/charles-henry-monchau?hsLang=en)** | 15/10/2026 ## Straight from the Desk # Syz the moment Live feeds, charts, breaking stories, all day long. [Discover more](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment) ## **Thinking** out loud Sign up for our weekly email highlighting the most popular posts. 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