DigiSense: Overview of the End-to-End AI Control

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving technological change that is impossible to ignore. And, part of the aggressive changes in the last 4 years is the active contribution of open-source developers.

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Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and other big players benefited from the smartest and most brilliant of open-source developers. But centralized dominance is becoming more apparent as open-source devs are slowly taken out of the picture. 

It is not uncommon nor surprising that big players are taking more control over AI development, shifting the landscape. This comes just like other profitable technologies, which they need exclusive access to so they can rake in bigger profits.

How does this end-to-end control look for the big players?

Big companies have been setting up mechanisms for years to take control of every part of the AI process—from the tools used to build AI to the cloud services that run it, and even the models that power it. Yet, the signs are just starting to show. At the start, they released open-source models that open-source developers helped improve, but once these models reached features that enabled broader use, they began announcing plans to build in-house models. Open-source developers and small businesses that depend on these AI models now need to rely on paid services to use models they themselves helped develop. 

Microsoft & OpenAI: Microsoft has made significant moves in AI, especially since acquiring GitHub in 2018. GitHub, once a free platform for open-source developers, has gradually shifted toward a paid model. It is also OpenAI’s largest investor, allowing it to control the world’s leading model that powers its products, such as Microsoft Office and other cloud AI services.

Google & Anthropic: Google has been a leader in AI for years, with innovations like Google Translate and Google Assistant. The company has now shifted to more tightly control the AI ecosystem through Google Cloud and Google AI, making its platforms the go-to for businesses adopting AI. Google also sealed a partnership with Anthropic, the creator of Claude, one of the most advanced AI models currently.

Amazon: Amazon’s approach to AI is closely tied to its cloud service, AWS (Amazon Web Services). Amazon has offered AI tools through AWS for years, but now it’s doubling down. With its vast infrastructure and data access, Amazon is making it easier for businesses to use AI—again, mostly through its platform. As more companies turn to AWS, Amazon strengthens its control over the AI space.

Nvidia & Elon Musk xAI: Nvidia has evolved from providing just graphics processing units (GPUs) for high-performance computing to offering full AI models and infrastructure that power xAI’s model training. This collaboration integrates Nvidia’s hardware with xAI’s transparent model development, enabling seamless deployment across sectors such as autonomous vehicles (Tesla), space missions (SpaceX), and robotics. Nvidia’s AI tools and processing hardware accelerate xAI’s transparent AI models, ensuring both high computational power and ethical decision-making. This partnership demonstrates tight control over the entire AI ecosystem, from hardware to model deployment.

Meta: Meta has embedded AI across its platforms, from algorithms that drive social media feeds to cutting-edge metaverse tech. The company develops its own AI models in voice, computer vision, and virtual reality. Meta has made high-profile acquisitions, including ManusAI (considered Asia’s smartest agentic AI model), CTRL-labs for brain-computer interfaces, and Scape Technologies for computer vision. Meta has also spent billions to acquire top-tier talent, aiming to monopolize AI innovation and maintain a competitive edge in the industry.

What does this mean for the future of AI?

Smaller developers are increasingly left with fewer options. In the past, open-source collaboration allowed anyone to contribute to AI’s development, but now, with billions of dollars being spent on acquisitions, talent sourcing, and securing knowledge, these companies are making sure they own the latest technologies. The result? AI is becoming a closed technology.

Smaller players could be left with outdated free models or forced to spend vast sums to develop competitive models. For many, it may become too expensive to pursue development on their own. And they will be forced to take an alternative. Sell their tech or work for the bigger players, who can afford the massive investments required to keep up. 

With all the hype and excitement surrounding everything AI-integrated, the more the big players will benefit. And the more they would want to keep AI as exclusive as they can.#nordis.net