1. Chart data
  2. Agents Are Using Far More Tokens Than People
a16zLine chart · 129 points · a16z

Agents Are Using Far More Tokens Than People

The numbers behind a chart a16z published, redrawn natively. Check the original, study the data, then make your own.

Estimated from the image 30%All chart data
Chart by a16z. Source: x.com

Simplified redraw

Drawn by us from the numbers below. Hover, tap or use the arrow keys.

A simplified redraw: it shows the numbers in our own look, not the look of the original. One accent marks what the chart is about. Values marked with ~ in the table are estimates.

The numbers

First 10 of 129 points are free
GroupSeriesxValue (T)SourceConf.
AgenticSep 05~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticSep 13~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticSep 21~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticSep 29~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticOct 07~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticOct 15~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticOct 23~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticOct 31~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticNov 08~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticNov 16~0.1Estimate0.30

Max data, free with your email for now

See all 129 points and download the files

The full table, the JSON, a CSV and the agent skill file for this chart. These are Max in the plan; while this is a prototype your email unlocks them.

Unlocks all 35 giants. One email a week, leave any time. What you get · Log in

AgenticNov 24~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticDec 02~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticDec 10~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticDec 18~0.1Estimate0.30
AgenticDec 26~0.2Estimate0.30
AgenticJan 03~0.3Estimate0.30
AgenticJan 11~0.4Estimate0.30
AgenticJan 19~0.5Estimate0.30
AgenticJan 27~0.6Estimate0.30
AgenticFeb 04~0.7Estimate0.30
AgenticFeb 12~0.8Estimate0.30
AgenticFeb 20~0.9Estimate0.30
AgenticFeb 28~1Estimate0.30
AgenticMar 08~1.1Estimate0.30
AgenticMar 16~1.2Estimate0.30
AgenticMar 24~1.3Estimate0.30
AgenticApr 01~1.4Estimate0.30
AgenticApr 09~1.5Estimate0.30
AgenticApr 17~1.6Estimate0.30
AgenticApr 25~1.7Estimate0.30
AgenticMay 03~1.8Estimate0.30
AgenticMay 11~1.9Estimate0.30
AgenticMay 19~2Estimate0.30
AgenticMay 27~2.1Estimate0.30
AgenticJun 04~2.2Estimate0.30
AgenticJun 12~2.3Estimate0.30
AgenticJun 20~2.4Estimate0.30
HumanSep 05~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanSep 13~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanSep 21~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanSep 29~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanOct 07~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanOct 15~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanOct 23~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanOct 31~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanNov 08~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanNov 16~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanNov 24~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanDec 02~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanDec 10~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanDec 18~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanDec 26~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanJan 03~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanJan 11~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanJan 19~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanJan 27~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanFeb 04~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanFeb 12~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanFeb 20~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanFeb 28~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanMar 08~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanMar 16~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanMar 24~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanApr 01~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanApr 09~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanApr 17~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanApr 25~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanMay 03~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanMay 11~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanMay 19~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanMay 27~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanJun 04~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanJun 12~0.3Estimate0.30
HumanJun 20~0.3Estimate0.30
MixedSep 05~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedSep 13~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedSep 21~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedSep 29~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedOct 07~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedOct 15~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedOct 23~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedOct 31~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedNov 08~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedNov 16~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedNov 24~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedDec 02~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedDec 10~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedDec 18~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedDec 26~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedJan 03~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedJan 11~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedJan 19~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedJan 27~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedFeb 04~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedFeb 12~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedFeb 20~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedFeb 28~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedMar 08~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedMar 16~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedMar 24~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedApr 01~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedApr 09~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedApr 17~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedApr 25~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedMay 03~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedMay 11~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedMay 19~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedMay 27~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedJun 04~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedJun 12~0.2Estimate0.30
MixedJun 20~0.2Estimate0.30
AgenticJun 2837~0Estimate0.30
AgenticJul 0638~0Estimate0.30
AgenticJul 1439~0Estimate0.30
AgenticJul 2240~0Estimate0.30
AgenticJul 3041~0Estimate0.30
AgenticAug 0742~0Estimate0.30
HumanJun 2837~0.4Estimate0.30
HumanJul 0638~0.4Estimate0.30
HumanJul 1439~0.4Estimate0.30
HumanJul 2240~0.4Estimate0.30
HumanJul 3041~0.4Estimate0.30
HumanAug 0742~0.4Estimate0.30
MixedJun 2837~0.3Estimate0.30
MixedJul 0638~0.3Estimate0.30
MixedJul 1439~0.3Estimate0.30
MixedJul 2240~0.3Estimate0.30
MixedJul 3041~0.3Estimate0.30
MixedAug 0742~0.3Estimate0.30
Download this chart's data

Max subscribers get the same data by API. API docs

JSONAgent skill file

API · Max

Use this chart via API

On the Max plan you can pull this chart's numbers with the provenance of each one, as JSON or CSV, with its redraw spec, or call it from an agent over MCP. Chart id f2c36e6f4178.

Approximate values. Our two readings of this chart agreed only in part (confidence 0.30 of 1), so check the original before you quote a number. The API marks it lowConfidence, and ?min_confidence=0.5 leaves it out.

See the Max planAPI docs
PathReturnsPlan
GET/api/v1/charts/f2c36e6f4178Title, publisher, date, form, point count; with a Max key, the data linkOpen
GET/api/v1/charts/f2c36e6f4178/dataEvery point with its provenance and confidence, plus the redraw spec. Add ?format=csv for CSVMax
GET/api/v1/charts/f2c36e6f4178/render?view=1The draw-only view this page usesOpen
POST/mcpTool get_chart_data with this id, for Claude, Cursor and other agentsMax
curlMax
curl -s https://viral-chart.com/api/v1/charts/f2c36e6f4178/data \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VIRALCHART_KEY"
Claude CodeMax
claude mcp add --transport http viralchart https://viral-chart.com/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $VIRALCHART_KEY"

60 requests a minute per key; over that you get 429 with Retry-After. Up to 5 keys per account, made on your account page and shown once. Without Max, the data route answers 402 with a link to the plans. The numbers describe a chart its publisher owns, and every file carries a license note.

Make one like this

This chart's shape, your numbers.

Live preview. Everything stays on your device.

Pick the form

A simplified form: our own look, not the look of the original. Your numbers start from this chart's data.

More data from a16z

All chart data
Estimated from the imageAI Finally Comes For The Call Centers?a16z · Bar chart · 75 pointsEstimated from the imageGrowth Fell, but Many Companies Are Still Stuck in the Middle.a16z · Line chart · 40 pointsEstimated from the imageWhere Consumer AI Has Room to Growa16z · Table chart · 30 pointsEstimated from the image7-day average token usage on OpenRouter, by typea16z · Line chart · 129 pointsEstimated from the imageWhat AI's Biggest Consumer Spenders Overindex Ona16z · Benchmark bar chart · 18 pointsEstimated from the imageThe Grid Is Built For A Peak It Neared For only About 200 Hoursa16z · Line chart · 25 points

Questions people ask

How accurate are these numbers?

They are estimated from the image by two independent passes, with confidence 0.30 on a 0 to 1 scale. Printed numbers read well; values read off an axis can be a few percent off.

Can I reuse this data?

The numbers describe a chart that a16z published. The image, layout and styling belong to them. Use the numbers with a credit to the publisher, and make your picture from your own data.

How do I get the file?

The JSON, CSV and agent skill file are under the email gate on this page. In this prototype they are static files at /api/charts/f2c36e6f4178.json and /api/charts/f2c36e6f4178.skill.md.