Executive Summary
Despite Microsoft's enterprise distribution advantages and Office 365 integration, Microsoft Copilot lost 7.3 percentage points of paid subscriber share in seven months while Google Gemini gained 2.9 points, based on more than 150,000 respondents. Distribution advantages do not lock in market position. Employees receiving enterprise AI tools evaluate options and select based on experience. The platform that delivers the most reliable results wins, regardless of vendor seat licenses.
When Copilot is the only AI platform an employer provides, 68% of workers adopt it as their primary tool. When both Copilot and ChatGPT are available, Copilot's adoption falls to 18% while ChatGPT captures 76%. When all three major platforms are available, only 8% choose Copilot while 70% choose ChatGPT and 18% choose Gemini.
Gemini's rise correlates with quality cNPS leadership. The platform posts the highest accuracy satisfaction scores among major competitors, 23 points above Copilot and 9 points above ChatGPT. Copilot's decline correlates with the lowest accuracy perception in the market. Quality drives share movement, not deployment volume.
The enterprise AI market remains contestable. Every renewal cycle is an opportunity for challengers to displace incumbents. Distribution creates exposure. Quality creates preference. The platforms that execute on accuracy, integration, and use case demonstration will capture enterprise spend in 2026.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: The Headline Numbers 3
- Chapter 2: Licenses vs. Usage 6
- Chapter 3: Accuracy Concerns 9
- Chapter 4: Use Case and Engagement 12
- Chapter 5: Strategic Implications 15
- Appendix 19