How Will OpenAI Compete?
Summary
Benedict Evans analyzes OpenAI's strategic fragility: despite a large user base, OpenAI lacks a clear, durable platform advantage and must navigate a rapidly evolving AI infrastructure landscape dominated by incumbents. He argues the real leverage may come from distribution, ecosystem play, and new user experiences built atop foundation models, while capital intensity could squeeze players without strong platform dynamics. The piece contrasts platform paradigms with synthesizing APIs and questions whether OpenAI can become the orchestrator of an AI software stack.