Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI just start 100 companies?

Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by adelekeabdulgan on Friday October 23, 2026 @08:01AM (#50207604)

"is selling tokens really the best strategy"

Yes. in a gold rush, the best strategy is to sell shovels. they sold us an idea of whats possible, while they earn NOW.

come to think of it, whether you succeed in building the "next big thing" with thier tokens or not, they get paid.

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Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by vanschelven on Friday October 23, 2026 @08:19AM (#50207799)

but even in a gold rush selling shovels _at a loss_ would not seem to be the best strategy, unless there would be some kind of shovel lock in effect.

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Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by NorwegianDude on Friday October 23, 2026 @09:02AM (#50208344)

They are not selling tokens at a loss, they have insane profit on tokens. It's the only think making them money instead of loosing money.

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Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by adelekeabdulgan on Friday October 23, 2026 @09:15AM (#50208507)

I dont believe they are still selling tokens at a loss.

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Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by blitzar on Friday October 23, 2026 @08:11AM (#50207714)

the real shovels are gpus

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Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by trzeci on Friday October 23, 2026 @08:13AM (#50207739)

the real shovels for the real shovels is energy

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Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by johanneskanybal on Friday October 23, 2026 @08:54AM (#50208235)

Some pretty creative accounting is the only reason you could consider them earning anything. They're taking a bet in the future they'll earn loads, maybe the will, maybe it will be through tokens or maybe it will be by replacing companies.

But where the business model lands we simply have no idea of currently because the future is in the future.

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Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by margorczynski on Friday October 23, 2026 @09:22AM (#50208597)

That might have worked if not for the Chinese models. There is no sensible moat to guarantee them (US AI companies) the margins they need to be profitable.

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Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by asadotzler on Friday October 23, 2026 @03:26PM (#50214123)

>while they earn NOW.

Except they're not. Those shovel sellers weren't losing $2 for every $1 shovel they sold.

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Re:Ask HN: If the models are so good, why doesn't OpenAI jus... by stonecore on Saturday October 24, 2026 @12:26PM (#50222776)

History repeats his self :)

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