OpenAI appears to be following Visa’s business model to maintain market dominance in the artificial intelligence sector, according to an analysis by Taylor Lorenz in User Magazine. The company is actively pursuing regulatory influence and exclusive partnerships to secure its position, despite growing competition from tech giants.
OpenAI’s revenue is projected to reach $100 billion by 2029, as reported by The New York Times, but faces challenges as large language models become increasingly commoditized. CEO Sam Altman has openly acknowledged that AI reasoning engines will become widely available, leading the company to seek alternative ways to maintain its market position. The company has engaged in strategic moves including lobbying Washington for AI regulation and requiring investors to avoid funding competitors.
OpenAI currently serves 92% of Fortune 500 companies, according to CNBC, and may seek to leverage these relationships through exclusive contracts. The company faces competition from major tech firms including Google, Meta, and Amazon, who have developed their own AI models. Some competitors, like Meta’s Llama, are offering open-source alternatives. Industry observers note that OpenAI’s strategy mirrors Visa’s response to payment processing commoditization, where the credit card company built legal and regulatory barriers to maintain market dominance.