# Businesses Use Open-Weight AI to Cut Tech Costs

> Companies switch to cheaper AI models to avoid steep tech expenses.
- Title: Businesses Use Open-Weight AI to Cut Tech Costs · Pymnts
- Summary: Companies switch to cheaper AI models to avoid steep tech expenses. Businesses adopt open-weight AI to reduce costs after spending $10 million on proprietary…
- Keywords: open-weight ai, tech costs, ai models, businesses, pymnts, nvidia, ai safety coalition, business, finance, Use, Open-Weight, Cut
- Source: Pymnts — https://pymnts.com/news/artificial-intelligence/2026/businesses-embrace-open-weight-ai-amid-heavy-tech-costs
- Author: PYMNTS
- Published: 2026-09-28T01:37:52+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: open-weight ai, tech costs, ai models, businesses, pymnts, nvidia, ai safety coalition, business, finance
## Businesses turn to open-weight AI
American businesses are reportedly turning to lower-cost open-weight AI models to gain control over rising tech expenses.
## Open-weight models cost less
Open-weight models can be less costly for companies than paying for access to advanced models from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.
## Management references surge
Management references to open weight or open source models in earnings calls and investor conferences jumped sixfold in August and September 2026 compared with the same two-month stretch in 2025.
## Tinder uses open-weight models
Tinder’s chief technology officer said the company started routing some queries from non-technical users to open-weight models as AI costs rose.
## Tinder’s cost spike
Tinder spent $1 million per year in January and $10 million by July 2026 as AI costs increased.
## Open-weight AI savings
Open-weight models may replace proprietary models if they catch up, avoiding another 10X cost increase.
## Key takeaway

Businesses adopt open-weight AI to reduce costs after spending $10 million on proprietary models by July 2026.