Re:Something Is Changing in the Unit Economics of Software
by alun on Thursday August 06, 2026 @11:13AM
(#49197834)
The author misses one potential future of AI software where people use use their own subscriptions / API keys for their AI usage.
In this scenario the user would either sign into the platform via their Anthropic / OpenAI / Gemini account or use their API keys, and any of their usage would be billed to them directly.
The company then doesn't have to worry about the increasing costs from the AI usage.
Of course, in this future, AI providers become the new "Facebooks" of the world.
In this scenario the user would either sign into the platform via their Anthropic / OpenAI / Gemini account or use their API keys, and any of their usage would be billed to them directly.
The company then doesn't have to worry about the increasing costs from the AI usage.
Of course, in this future, AI providers become the new "Facebooks" of the world.